Analysis of pelvic floor muscle training for males using magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract

[Purpose] Stress urinary incontinence is a major complication of radical prostatectomy. Pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is the established treatment for this type of incontinence. In this study, we evaluated the dynamic movement of the pelvic floor using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). [Subjects] Seven healthy volunteer males participated in this study. [Methods] We ordered control of urination (halts voiding or tighten the tension of the anus muscles) and measured the distance of each indication: the distance between the pelvic bone and coccygeal bone (P-C), the distance between the pelvic floor and coccygeal bone (F-C), and the distance between the pelvic bone and bladder neck (P-B). [Results] The effect of ordering urination control was to decrease the distance of P-C and increase the distance of F-C and P-B in the MRI results. Ordering a voiding halt resulted in a decreased distance of P-C and ordering tighten tension of the anus muscles resulted in increased distance of F-C. [Conclusion] In this study, we revealed the different movements of the pelvic floor muscles during PFMT using MRI. These results indicate that different orders effect different muscles and we may find more effective ways of PFMT utilizing these results.