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Transforming women's pelvic floor health.

Year:
2017
Duration:
28 months
Approved budget:
$150,000.00
Researchers:
Dr Jennifer Kruger
Health issue:
Renal and urogenital
Proposal type:
Explorer Grant
Lay summary
Urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, affect one in four women. Weak pelvic floor muscles are usually part of the problem. The good news is that a simple training programme can be effective in 70% of women - provided they are done correctly and kept up. We plan to transform pelvic floor muscle health by using a new intra-vaginal pressure sensor array, which can be worn during daily living or exercise. This pressure sensor array will, for the first time, provide accurate feedback on pelvic floor health, correct exercise technique and assistance with adhering to a training programme, via a smartphone. This research will assess the repeatability and utility of the device, among a group of women who are scheduled for physiotherapy treatment. The results will enable quantification on the progression of the health of the pelvic floor to be assessed, leading to better outcomes, and ultimately reduced healthcare costs.