Study on Improving Fecal Continence Muscles Motor Function

This study is looking into how to improve the strength of muscles that help control bowel movements (continence muscles) in people with fecal incontinence. Researchers believe that by making these muscles work against resistance until they get tired, they can become stronger and reduce incontinence. They are using a special device called the continence muscles resistance device (c-RED), which is a balloon placed inside the anus, to provide this resistance. The study will measure changes in anal and vaginal pressure during exercises, both immediately and after 6 weeks of daily exercise. You can join if you are 18 or older, either a healthy volunteer or someone with weakened anal muscles who can perform the exercises. People with certain neurological or muscle diseases cannot participate. The study aims to enroll 340 participants.

Study design
This interventional study plans to enroll 340 participants. It will use a device to provide resistance during muscle exercises.
What's involved
Participants will use the c-RED device to perform daily exercises for 6 weeks. Anal and vaginal pressure will be measured during Kegel-like exercises at the start and after 6 weeks.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The primary endpoints are measured after 6 weeks of exercise.

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NCT06532123

Mechanisms of Improving Fecal Continence Muscles Motor Function

Recruiting
NAAges 18+InterventionalBasic science
Medical College of Wisconsin
~340 participants
Updated 2025-10-23 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:continence muscles resistance device

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
anal pressure
Measured over during kegel like exercise
+5 more outcomes measured
Fecal Incontinence
1 sites across 1 states
Wisconsin1

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Healthy volunteers without past or present history of fecal incontinence
Patients age 18 years and older with reduced anal resting and or squeeze pressure, reflecting weakness of the anal sphincters who can perform the study

Exclusion

Any one less than 18 years old
Neurological disorders like dementia, cerebrovascular diseases
Muscle diseases like muscular dystrophy, myopathies
Inflammatory bowel disease or celiac disease
Neuro-muscular junction disorders/myasthenia gravis, Eaton-Lambert syndrome
Organ prolapse, large rectocele(\>2cm), rectal intussusception
Hip dysplasia or recent hip surgery and immobile patients.
Patients with complete normal anal resting and squeeze pressure
Impaired rectal evacuation (dyssynergy defecation)
Fecal incontinence completely due to loss of rectal sensation
Subjects unable to contract their external anal sphincter at all
  • anal pressureduring kegel like exercise

    Maximum squeeze pressure, mean squeeze pressure and anal squeeze contractile integral

  • anal pressureafter 6 weeks' exercise, during kegel like exercise

    Maximum squeeze pressure, mean squeeze pressure and anal squeeze contractile integral

  • Vaginal pressureduring kegel like exercise

    Maximum squeeze pressure, mean squeeze pressure and vaginal squeeze contractile integral

  • Vaginal pressureafter 6 weeks' exercise, during kegel like exercise

    Maximum squeeze pressure, mean squeeze pressure and vaginal squeeze contractile integral

  • Fecal Incontinence severitybefore and after 6 weeks' exercise

    Vaizey Incontinence Score to quantify the severity of fecal incontinence. The Vaizey score is a validated tool and consists of two scoring systems with a five-point scale, which evaluates type and frequency of solid/liquid stool loss, flatus incontinence and impact on quality of life. Vaizey score ranges from 0 to 24, with 0 indicating perfect continent and 24 suggesting complete incontinence.

  • Quality of life measurebefore and after 6 weeks' exercise

    The investigators will use Fecal Incontinence Quality of Life scale (FIQOL).FIQOL is used to evaluate psychometric health-related quality of life parameters in fecal incontinence patients. The score is arranged on four psychosocial scales: lifestyle, coping/behavior, depression/self-perception, and embarrassment, and contains a total of 29 different items. Subscale scores range from 1 to 5 and are the average response to all items on the scale.