Clinical measurement of pelvic floor movement: evaluation of a new device

PURPOSE: A new device that measures pelvic floor movement clinically was evaluated. METHODS: The device consists of a rectal balloon with a magnet at its exterior end. The magnet moves in an electromagnetic field synchronous with the pelvic floor movements. This movement is measured and displayed on a computer screen in front of the seated patient. Twenty-eight healthy volunteers (15 females) were examined. On a separate day, 17 of them were tested a second time by the same investigator and a third time by a different investigator. RESULTS: One volunteer developed a vasovagal reaction. The median (range) pelvic floor lift and descent was 2 (range, 0.6-4.5) cm and 1.8 (range, 0.5-5.6) cm respectively. Day-to-day and interobserver reproducibility was good. Coughing and blowing a party balloon caused pelvic floor descent in the majority of participants. Twenty of 28 volunteers were able to expel the rectal balloon. CONCLUSIONS: The device measures cranial and caudal movements of the pelvic floor with minimal discomfort and good reproducibility. The device may have a large potential as biofeedback device in pelvic floor training.