Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in postmenopausal women is traditionally considered a local pelvic floor disorder, but emerging evidence suggests that spinopelvic and lower limb alignment may also contribute to continence mechanisms. Transperineal ultrasound α/β angles and post void residual (PVR) volume are promising imaging markers that might capture this broader biomechanical phenotype.
Objective To compare hip ultrasound α/β angles, PVR volume, and lower limb and spinopelvic alignment between symptomatic and asymptomatic postmenopausal women, and to explore within group correlations between PVR and musculoskeletal alignment variables.
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included postmenopausal women aged 50 years or older who had at least 12 months of amenorrhea or follicle-stimulating hormone values within the menopausal range and who could stand and walk independently to allow lower-limb and alignment assessments
Case-control
Cross-sectional
Not listed
hip ultrasound parameters
we measured hip ultrasound angles describing urethrovesical and retrovesical configurations at rest and during a Valsalva or valgus manoeuvre, expressed in degrees. Trained clinicians performed transperineal ultrasound examinations in the lithotomy or semi-recumbent position, capturing angle measurements at rest and during standardized Valsalva efforts; we then recorded the mean of repeated readings to reduce measurement error.
Lower-Limb and Foot Posture Measures
We assessed foot posture using the navicular drop test (NDT), recorded in millimetres as the vertical displacement of the navicular tuberosity between subtalar neutral and relaxed stance. We measured Q-angles (quadriceps angle) using both computed tomography (CT) and goniometric methods for the right and left lower limbs
Spinopelvic Alignment and Torsion
Spinopelvic parameters included pelvic incidence, pelvic tilt, and sacral slope, all measured in degrees from radiographic
Post-Void Residual Volume
We measured post-void residual volume in millilitres using standardized bladder ultrasound immediately after participants attempted to empty their bladder.
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