About 40 % of women worldwide are affected by pelvic floor disorders [1]. As a therapeutic intervention currently pelvic floor muscle training is already widely used. This can be supported by training devices. On the current market, nevertheless, they often lack scientific evidence and are mainly invasive. In this project, the focus lies on the prevention of pelvic floor disorders. A prototype feedback device to assess adequate muscle contraction of the pelvic floor is being developed in close collaboration with Czech colleagues from the University of Pilsen and Charles University in Prague.
The aim of this project is to prevent pelvic floor disorders through high-tech prevention. By combining expertise in pelvic floor health, biomechanical modelling and ergonomics, this project will develop a functional prototype of a noninvasive feedback system for healthy women aged 18-45. It will consist of evidence-based virtual human models combined with non-invasive data collection, sensor technology and artificial intelligence-based software. The project will contribute to the development and training of research and innovation capacity and will involve stakeholders through transnational communication, dissemination and exploitation activities. These include students in medicine, healthcare, industrial design, teachers/educators, physiotherapists and gynaecologists, research and educational institutions, and small and medium-sized enterprises.
This project no. BYCZ01-014 entitled “Prevention of pelvic floor disorders” is being realised as part of the INTERREG Bavaria-Czech Republic 2021-2027 programme.
The current status of the project can always be followed at www.beckenboden-praevention.de.
[1] Wang et al, Front Public Health, 10:975829, 2022