Clinical Research Directory

Transperineal Ultrasound as a Biofeedback Tool for Pelvic Floor Muscle Therapy in Postpartum Patients

Regular and effective pelvic floor muscle exercises after vaginal birth are crucial in reducing the risk of pelvic floor disorders in women. Pelvic floor muscle exercises are generally encouraged by healthcare providers to their patients after birth. However, it is often difficult to confirm whether a patient is performing pelvic floor muscle contractions correctly. A supervised pelvic floor physiotherapy session allows a professional to assess the pelvic floor and give their verbal feedback to patients. However even in this setting, patient's are reliant on the physiotherapist and have no way to assess their own performance. The 'biofeedback approach' allows for the clinician and patient to visually assess and modify their performance and can potentially allow for more effective therapy and better engagement. Transperineal ultrasonography is a widely available, safe and non-invasive biofeedback tool that can used at the bedside in order to assess pelvic floor muscle contractions. Our aim is to assess if using transperineal ultrasound can enhance the ability of postpartum patients to perform effective pelvic floor muscle therapy.