title: Pelvic floor muscle thickness measured by perineal ultrasonography.
abstract: Pelvic floor muscle thickness was assessed in nine healthy female physiotherapists by perineal sonography. All measurements were performed as triple-measurements. The aims were to assess the reliability of the measurements and to establish a reference material. The muscle thickness at rest and at contraction was 9.4 +/- 0.8 mm and 11.5 +/- 1.1 mm respectively (mean +/- SD). Contraction increased the thickness by 2.2 +/- 0.8 mm or 23 +/- 8%. The intra- and inter observer standard deviation of the estimate was in the range of 4-6%. In conclusion, we find the reliability of the measurements acceptable.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Juul
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grønvall
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bonde
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Klarskov
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009132:Muscles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010502:Perineum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012016:Reference Values; D014463:Ultrasonography