Mechanisms of Improving Fecal Continence Muscles Motor Function

Launched by MEDICAL COLLEGE OF WISCONSIN · Jul 29, 2024

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how different muscles that help control bowel movements work and how they can be improved in people who experience fecal incontinence, which is the involuntary loss of stool. The researchers believe that by using specific exercises that create resistance, they can strengthen these muscles and reduce the severity of fecal incontinence. This trial is not yet recruiting participants, but once it starts, it will look for healthy volunteers aged 18 and older, as well as patients with weak anal muscles who have trouble controlling bowel movements.

To join the study, participants must not have any history of fecal incontinence and should be able to perform the required exercises. However, people with certain conditions, such as neurological disorders, muscle diseases, or specific bowel issues, will not be eligible to participate. Those who qualify can expect to take part in exercises aimed at improving muscle strength, which may help them manage or improve their bowel control. This research could lead to better treatment options for people struggling with fecal incontinence.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 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 Criteria:
• • 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