Voluntary contraction ability of pelvic floor muscles of young females measured by an ultrasound imaging device

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of the ability to voluntarily contract the pelvic floor muscles in young females. [Participants and Methods] The participants were 29 healthy young females without childbirth experience. We confirmed whether they could voluntarily contract their pelvic floor muscles using an ultrasound imaging device, and the extent of the movement was measured. The contracted state was defined as that in which the bladder bottom could be kept in the lifted position for more than 3 seconds without pushing the bladder down to the caudal side due to contraction of the trunk muscle group. [Results] Eleven females (38%) were able to voluntarily contract the pelvic floor muscles; 18 (62%) could not. [Conclusion] More than 60% of females could not correctly voluntarily contract their pelvic floor muscles in this study.