Additional Effects of Aerobic and Resistance Exercises to Pelvic Floor Muscle Training After Radical Prostatectomy

Plain-language summary

In the literature, studies about urinary symptoms after radical prostatectomy (RP) are generally focused on urinary incontinence (UI), and studies about sexual symptoms are focused on erectile dysfunction (ED). In the management of these symptoms, the effects of pharmacological agents (duloxetine/antimuscarinics and PDE5-I) and/or local approaches (pelvic floor muscle training-PFMT, vacuum erection devices) have been emphasized. In these studies, the results are contradictory and the level of evidence is low. The effects of aerobic and resistance exercise training on urinary, sexual and general health after RP have not been revealed from a holistic and multidisciplinary perspective. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the additional effects of aerobic and resistance exercise trainings to pelvic floor muscle training on urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction after radical prostatectomy in a randomized controlled design. The study will include volunteers aged 40 years and older (Mini Mental test score of 24 and above for individuals aged 65 years and older) with symptoms of UI and/or ED after RP. The study is designed as a randomized controlled trial. Individuals who meet the inclusion criteria and agree to participate in the study will be randomly assigned to 2 separate groups. Subjects in the research group will receive patient education, PFMT, and aerobic and resistance exercise trainings; subjects in the control group will receive only patient education and PFMT. The study period is 12 weeks. Individuals will be evaluated at 2 separate time periods, at the beginning of the study and at the end of the 12th week.

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