• Sigrid Tibaek and Christian Dehlendorff.
• Department of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Copenhagen University Hospital Glostrup, Glostrup, Denmark, sigrid@tibaek.dk.
• Int Urogynecol J. 2014 May 1; 25 (5): 663-9.

Introduction And HypothesisThe objectives of this study were to investigate the level of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function in women with pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) referred by gynaecologists and urologists for in-hospital pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), and to identity associated factors for a low level of PFM function.MethodsData of women with PFD referred to a PFMT programme were included in a retrospective chart review. Measurement of PFM function performed by digital vaginal palpation included: voluntary PFM contraction, PFM strength (Modified Oxford Grading Scale) and PFM static endurance.ResultsData of 998 women, mean age 56 (SD 13) years, with PFD (urinary incontinence, n = 757, anal incontinence, n = 36, pelvic organ prolapse, n = 111, other PFD, n = 94) were analysed. In all, 690 women (70%) were, at baseline, unable to perform correct voluntary PFM contraction, mean PFM strength was 1.5 (SD 1.0) points, mean PFM static endurance was 16.7 (SD 16.1) seconds. Age ≥ 65 years and year of referral > 2000 were significantly (p < 0.01) associated with the ability to perform correct PFM contraction. Likewise, year of referral was significantly associated with high PFM strength (p < 0.01).ConclusionsThe majority of the women were unable to perform correct voluntary PFM contraction and almost all had low PFM strength. The most important factor associated with a low level of PFM function was age.

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