Training app improves urination problems
Study by Freiburg University Medical Center shows benefits of app-supported therapy for men with urinary complaints caused by benign prostate enlargement / 92 percent of participants report improved quality of life
Many men suffer from urinary problems as they get older - often caused by an enlarged prostate or an overactive bladder. A study by the University Medical Center Freiburg has now shown that a digital training program using an app can significantly alleviate these symptoms. Patients who used the digital health app "(DIGA) Kranus Lutera" for twelve weeks reported a noticeable improvement in symptoms and a significantly improved quality of life. The study was published on March 25, 2025 in the renowned journal New England Journal of Medicine Evidence.
"Our studies show that digital therapies for urinary symptoms caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia can be effectively integrated into everyday life. They offer many sufferers a low-threshold opportunity to become active themselves and improve their quality of life," says study leader Prof. Dr. Christian Gratzke, Medical Director of the Department of Urology at the Freiburg University Medical Center.
Digital therapy as an effective alternative
A total of 237 patients from the University Medical Center Freiburg and the University Medical Center Halle took part in the study. Around half of them were given access to the "Kranus Lutera" app for twelve weeks in addition to their usual medical care. This combines pelvic floor training, behavioral tips, bladder training and medical background knowledge in a structured program. Supported by videos, audio instructions and motivating feedback, users are guided through the training individually - adapted to their personal progress.
At the end of the study period, the results showed that participants in the app group reported a significant reduction in their symptoms on average. A total of 92 percent stated that they felt better at the end of the twelve weeks. In the control group, who did not use the app, the symptoms remained unchanged. Undesirable side effects occurred rarely and were not related to the application.
A follow-up study will now investigate how long-term the positive effect remains.
Original publication: App-Based Therapeutic for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms: A Randomized Trial
Link to the study:https://evidence.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/EVIDoa2400290
DOI: 10.1056/EVIDoa2400290
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