The Reliability of Pelvic Floor Measures From Ultrasound Images Acquired at Rest and During Weightlifting Tasks.

NCT07727460 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: H-02-26-12513
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

We will evaluate the inter-and intra-rater reliability of pelvic floor morphometry obtained from transperineal ultrasound images collected at rest and during standardized weight lifting tasks.

Conditions

Urinary Incontinence , Stress

Keywords

exercise-induced urinary incontinence; pelvic floor; pelvic floor morphometry; ultrasound imaging; reliability

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (5)

• Bladder Neck Height

  Bladder neck height will be measured from 2D ultrasound images as the length of a line drawn perpendicularly from the long axis of the pubic symphysis to the bladder neck.

  Day 1

• Levator Plate Length

  The levator plate length will be measured from the ultrasound images as the linear distance between the posterior margin of the pubic sympysis and the anterior margin of the anorectal junction.

  Day 1

• Ano-rectal Junction Height

  Ano-rectal junction height will be measured from the ultrasound images as the length of a line drawn perpendicularly from the long axis of the pubic symphysis to the anterior margin of the anorectal junction.

  Day 1

• Levator Plate Angle

  Levator plate angle will be assessed using ultrasound imaging.The images will be recorded under the standardized conditions.

  Day 1

• Bladder Neck Funnelling

  Bladder neck funnelling will be assessed dichotomously as present or absent based on the visualization of an opening of the proximal urethra.

  single visit

Secondary Outcomes (4)

• International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI SF)

  At enrolment

• Australian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire (APFQ)

  At enrolment

• Five-part questionnaire on hypermobility (5PQ)

  At enrolment

• Beighton Score

  At enrolment

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: female
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Participants will be recruited from the Ottawa, Ontario and Vancouver, BC regions through local gyms, university facilities, and social media platforms. The study population includes active females aged 18 years or older who engage regularly in resistance training activities such as back squats and deadlifts and are able to lift \> 80% of their body weight and are willing to attend a single in-person session at the University of Ottawa's Motor Function Measurement Laboratory or designated locations in the greater Vancouver area of BC.

You may qualify if:

• Individuals with female or vulvo-vaginal anatomy
• Age 18 years or older
• No history of urogenital surgery
• Not currently pregnant or less than 12 months postpartum, if applicable
• Be able to safely perform a barbell back squat and deadlift exercises with a submaximal load of 80% of their body weight
• Able to communicate in English to sufficiently understand study procedures and provide informed consent

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of significant medical conditions that could affect safety, including cardiac, pulmonary, metabolic or neurological conditions
• Currently pregnant or less than 12 months postpartum
• Current pelvic, hip, or low back injury that limits lifting or impairs safe performance of squats or deadlifts with a barbell
• Unable to safely lift 80% of their body weight
• Known pelvic organ prolapse \> stage 2

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Ottawa: lead

Study Sites (2)

Eclipse Physiotherapy and Sport Injury Clinic

Langley, British Columbia, V2Y 1N5, Canada

RECRUITING

beSTRONG Training

North Vancouver, British Columbia, V7M 3G6, Canada

RECRUITING

Related Publications (19)

• Forner LB, Cyr MP, Beckman EM, Hodges PW, Smith MD. The Immediate Impact of Heavy Weightlifting on Pelvic Floor Morphometry in Vaginally Parous Women: A Repeated Measures Study. Int Urogynecol J. 2026 Jun 20. doi: 10.1007/s00192-026-06772-8. Online ahead of print.

  PMID: 42322404 BACKGROUND

• Chen Y, Peng L, Liu M, Shen H, Luo D. Diagnostic value of transperineal ultrasound in patients with stress urinary incontinence (SUI): a systematic review and meta-analysis. World J Urol. 2023 Mar;41(3):687-693. doi: 10.1007/s00345-022-04264-0. Epub 2023 Jan 4.

  PMID: 36598556 BACKGROUND

• Braekken IH, Majida M, Ellstrom-Engh M, Dietz HP, Umek W, Bo K. Test-retest and intra-observer repeatability of two-, three- and four-dimensional perineal ultrasound of pelvic floor muscle anatomy and function. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2008 Feb;19(2):227-35. doi: 10.1007/s00192-007-0408-7. Epub 2007 Jun 29.

  PMID: 17599234 BACKGROUND

• Czyrnyj CS, Labrosse MR, Graham RB, McLean L. UROKIN: A Software to Enhance Our Understanding of Urogenital Motion. Ann Biomed Eng. 2018 May;46(5):726-735. doi: 10.1007/s10439-018-1989-7. Epub 2018 Feb 7.

  PMID: 29417352 BACKGROUND

• Dietz HP. Ultrasound imaging of the pelvic floor. Part I: two-dimensional aspects. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2004 Jan;23(1):80-92. doi: 10.1002/uog.939.

  PMID: 14971006 BACKGROUND

• Dietz HP, Rojas RG, Shek KL. Postprocessing of pelvic floor ultrasound data: how repeatable is it? Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol. 2014 Dec;54(6):553-7. doi: 10.1111/ajo.12250. Epub 2014 Oct 22.

  PMID: 25338743 BACKGROUND

• Almousa S, Bandin Van Loon A. The prevalence of urinary incontinence in nulliparous female sportswomen: A systematic review. J Sports Sci. 2019 Jul;37(14):1663-1672. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2019.1585312. Epub 2019 Mar 1.

  PMID: 30822258 BACKGROUND

• Teixeira RV, Colla C, Sbruzzi G, Mallmann A, Paiva LL. Prevalence of urinary incontinence in female athletes: a systematic review with meta-analysis. Int Urogynecol J. 2018 Dec;29(12):1717-1725. doi: 10.1007/s00192-018-3651-1. Epub 2018 Apr 13.

  PMID: 29654349 BACKGROUND

• Blazek D, Stastny P, Maszczyk A, Krawczyk M, Matykiewicz P, Petr M. Systematic review of intra-abdominal and intrathoracic pressures initiated by the Valsalva manoeuvre during high-intensity resistance exercises. Biol Sport. 2019 Dec;36(4):373-386. doi: 10.5114/biolsport.2019.88759. Epub 2019 Oct 17.

  PMID: 31938009 BACKGROUND

• Berube ME, Niederauer S, Graham R, Hitchcock R, McLean L. Is pelvic floor loading in female runners associated with post-run changes in pelvic floor morphometry or function? BJU Int. 2025 Oct;136(4):707-718. doi: 10.1111/bju.16842. Epub 2025 Jun 30.

  PMID: 40586130 BACKGROUND

• Vesting S, Rodrigues MP, McLean L. Measurement and Interpretation of Intra-Abdominal Pressure During Physical Activity: A Scoping Review. Int Urogynecol J. 2026 May 30. doi: 10.1007/s00192-026-06635-2. Online ahead of print.

  PMID: 42217021 BACKGROUND

• Wikander L, Kirshbaum MN, Waheed N, Gahreman DE. Urinary Incontinence in Competitive Women Weightlifters. J Strength Cond Res. 2022 Nov 1;36(11):3130-3135. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000004052. Epub 2021 Jun 3.

  PMID: 34100787 BACKGROUND

• Wikander L, Kirshbaum MN, Waheed N, Gahreman DE. Urinary Incontinence in Competitive Women Powerlifters: A Cross-Sectional Survey. Sports Med Open. 2021 Dec 7;7(1):89. doi: 10.1186/s40798-021-00387-7.

  PMID: 34874496 BACKGROUND

• Huebner M, Ma W, Harding S. Sport-related risk factors for moderate or severe urinary incontinence in master female weightlifters: A cross-sectional study. PLoS One. 2022 Nov 30;17(11):e0278376. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0278376. eCollection 2022.

  PMID: 36449558 BACKGROUND

• Wikander L, Cross D, Gahreman DE. Prevalence of urinary incontinence in women powerlifters: a pilot study. Int Urogynecol J. 2019 Dec;30(12):2031-2039. doi: 10.1007/s00192-019-03870-8. Epub 2019 Jan 21.

  PMID: 30666426 BACKGROUND

• Skaug KL, Engh ME, Frawley H, Bo K. Prevalence of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, Bother, and Risk Factors and Knowledge of the Pelvic Floor Muscles in Norwegian Male and Female Powerlifters and Olympic Weightlifters. J Strength Cond Res. 2022 Oct 1;36(10):2800-2807. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003919. Epub 2020 Dec 3.

  PMID: 33278274 BACKGROUND

• Bo K, Lillegard RH, Skaug KL. Pelvic Floor Muscle Training on Stress Urinary Incontinence in Power- and Weightlifters: a Pilot Study. Int Urogynecol J. 2024 Jun;35(6):1291-1298. doi: 10.1007/s00192-024-05801-8. Epub 2024 May 17.

  PMID: 38758455 BACKGROUND

• Alves ASC, de Araujo MP, Pereira GMV, Brito LGO, Juliato CRT. Influence of Powerlifting and Weightlifting on Female Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: Systematic Literature Review. Int Urogynecol J. 2025 May;36(5):955-964. doi: 10.1007/s00192-025-06059-4. Epub 2025 Feb 7.

  PMID: 39918585 BACKGROUND

• Skaug KL, Engh ME, Bo K. Acute Effect of Heavy Weightlifting on the Pelvic Floor Muscles in Strength-Trained Women: An Experimental Crossover Study. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2024 Jan 1;56(1):37-43. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003275. Epub 2023 Aug 11.

  PMID: 37565457 BACKGROUND

Related Links

• MFM Lab website information for the LIFT study and link to pre-screening questionnaire

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Urinary Incontinence, Stress

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Urinary Incontinence; Urination Disorders; Urologic Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Urogenital Diseases; Male Urogenital Diseases; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms; Urological Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Officials

• Linda McLean

  University of Ottawa

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Adrienne Sim

CONTACT

613-562-5800; mfmlab_LIFT@uottawa.ca

Linda McLean

CONTACT

613-562-5800; lmclea2@uottawa.ca

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: COHORT
• Time Perspective: CROSS SECTIONAL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor in the School of Rehabilitation Sciences at University Of Ottawa

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 21, 2026
• First Posted: July 27, 2026
• Study Start: May 4, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): November 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Last Updated: July 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-05

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF
• Time Frame: Data will be available for 10 years after the publication of the study results.
• Access Criteria: Planned use of data for systematic review or meta-analysis.

Locations

CA (2)