Output details

Mechanisms of pelvic floor muscle function and the effect on the urethra during a cough

Significance of output:

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is a major issue for women in an aging population. This multi-disciplinary international team used ultrasound imaging and motion tracking to measure the motion of the pelvic floor muscles and urethra during a stress inducing cough. By comparing the response of continent women and women with SUI the physiological differences could be quantified; these are otherwise difficult to observe. The technique enables this inaccessible behaviour to be studied. The method potentially allows, for the first time, patients to receive visual feedback during physiotherapy treatment and hence optimise their muscle control for the purpose of reducing incontinence.