Inappropriate pelvic floor muscle activation during forced exhalation and coughing in elderly female inpatients with urinary incontinence.

Background: Reduced pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction strength is a common condition in elderly female patients with urinary incontinence (UI). However, little data exist to demonstrate the importance of appropriate PFM activation during exhaling and coughing.

Objectives: To analyse breathing and coughing patterns in elderly female inpatients with UI, and to assess PFM activation patterns during exhalation and coughing.