(030) Reliability of Shear Wave Elastography for the Assessment of Pelvic Floor Muscle Stiffness

Abstract Introduction Shear wave elastography (SWE) has gained popularity for assessing skeletal muscle stiffness and could potentially overcome some limitations associated with the assessment of pelvic floor muscles (PFMs). Additionally, SWE is a non-invasive painless alternative to current method PFMs, which often painful or even impossible perform in women sexual pain. Before implementing this promising method, it utmost importance assess its reliability. Available data are limited currently, there no study investigating reliability different PFMs. Objective To investigate intra-rater inter-rater measuring PFMs at rest during maximal voluntary contraction asymptomatic women. Methods Thirty nulliparous participated study. They each attended single session conducted by two independent assessors. assessments were performed using Aixplorer device (Supersonic Imaging) equipped linear probes. Four (i.e., bulbospongiosus, ischiocavernosus, transverse perineal, puborectalis) perineal body assessed contraction. Measurements taken twice first assessor (intra-rater reliability) once second (inter-rater reliability). saved analyzed offline. For both resting states, three consecutive frames stable maps selected. The average shear modulus was evaluated manually defining region interest that corresponded structure assessed. determine intra- reliability, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) calculated. Results Intra-rater excellent ischiocavernosus puborectalis as well (ICC 0.82-0.95); good bulbospongiosus 0.61-0.79); fair 0.51). results follows: 0.84-0.89); 0.62-0.72); 0.48); poor 0.22-0.38) states. Conclusions These findings support PFM women, especially muscle, body. By enabling localized areas may be stepping stone enhancing our understanding role pathophysiology treatment Further studies use encouraged. Disclosure No