BACKGROUND: Pelvic malalignment can lead to pelvic floor muscle (PFM) weakness, incontinence, and pain in athletes and the general population. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of pelvic realignment on the contractility of PFMs. METHODS: This research used a randomized, double-blinded controlled clinical design. Thirty participants with unilateral pelvic asymmetry were recruited and were randomly assigned into either repositioning exercise or control groups. Only participants in the treatment group received a supervised exercise for pelvic realignment for 5 days. The primary measurement focused on assessing the level of PFM contractility by measuring the level of bladder elevation with PFM contraction using transabdominal sonography. The secondary measurement involved evaluating pelvic alignment by Ober's test. RESULTS: The results of a 2-way mixed analysis of variance revealed a significant improvement in PFM contractility, as indicated by the level of PFM elevation, in the intervention group (pretest: 6.6 +/- 2.8 mm; posttest: 10.1 +/- 3.7 mm; p < 0.001). In contrast, no significant improvement was observed in the control group (pretest: 6.9 +/- 4.9 mm; posttest: 6.3 +/- 5.1 mm; p = 0.20). The difference in improved PFM contractility between the 2 groups was statistically significant (p = 0.00; 95% CI 5.69 to 2.69). Notably, only participants in the treatment group obtained pelvic symmetry. CONCLUSION: Pelvic repositioning exercise can significantly improve contractility of PFMs.

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