title: Transabdominal ultrasound to assess pelvic floor muscle performance during abdominal curl in exercising women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to assess pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function using transabdominal ultrasound (TAUS) in women attending group exercise classes. Specific aims were to: (1) identify the ability to perform a correct elevating PFM contraction and (2) assess bladder-base movement during an abdominal curl exercise.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety women participating in group exercise were recruited to complete a survey and TAUS assessment performed by two qualified Continence and Women's Health physiotherapists with clinical experience in ultrasound scanning. The assessment comprised three attempts of a PFM contraction and an abdominal curl exercise in crook lying. Bladder-base displacement was measured to determine correct or incorrect activation patterns.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-five percent (n = 23) of women were unable to demonstrate an elevating PFM contraction, and all women displayed bladder-base depression on abdominal curl (range 0.33-31.2 mm). Parous women displayed, on average, significantly more bladder-base depression than did nulliparous women [15.5 (7.3) mm vs 11.4 (5.8) mm, p < 0.009). Sixty percent (n = 54) reported stress urinary incontinence (SUI). There was no association between SUI and the inability to perform an elevating PFM contraction (p = 0.278) or the amount of bladder-base depression with abdominal curl [14.1 (7.6) mm SUI vs 14.2 (6.7) mm non-SUI].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TAUS identified that 25 % of women who participated in group exercise were unable to perform a correctly elevating PFM contraction, and all depressed the bladder-base on abdominal curl. Therefore, exercising women may be at risk of PFM dysfunction when performing abdominal curl activities.
authors.affiliation: School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.affiliation: School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia. c.serrao@bodylogicphysiotherapy.com.au.
authors.forename: Chloe
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1091-1329
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Serrao
authors.affiliation: School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.affiliation: School of Physiotherapy and Exercise Science, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia.
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Briffa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D010298:Parity; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Abdominal curl exercise; Group exercise; Pelvic floor muscle; Stress urinary incontinence; Transabdominal ultrasound; Women