INNOVATIONS IN PELVIC FLOOR REHABILITATION: A REVIEW OF WIRELESS INTRAVAGINAL BIOFEEDBACK DEVICES FOR WOMEN

Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is a common yet underdiagnosed condition affecting women globally, often leading to urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, and reduced quality of life. Despite its high prevalence, awareness and access to effective treatment options, including physiotherapy-based interventions, remain limited, particularly in resource-constrained regions. Wireless invasive biofeedback devices have emerged as innovative rehabilitation tools, offering real-time feedback, gamified exercises, and smartphone integration to enhance user engagement and adherence to pelvic floor muscle training programs. This review systematically analyzed 18 studies, identifying 12 commercially available devices and 4 patented innovations, evaluating their technological advancements, clinical efficacy, and market accessibility. Devices such as Elvie Kegel Trainer, PeriCoach, and MAPLe utilize pressure sensors, accelerometers, and AI-driven interfaces to provide personalized biofeedback. However, challenges such as high costs, limited distribution, and the need for specialized training restrict their widespread adoption, particularly in developing regions like India. To overcome these barriers, cost-effective, user-friendly solutions tailored to diverse populations are needed. Enhancing accessibility requires local manufacturing, public healthcare integration, AI-driven coaching, ergonomic designs, multimodal feedback, and multilingual interfaces. Future innovations should bridge the gap between affordability and technological sophistication to maximize rehabilitation outcomes and empower women with self-managed pelvic health solutions.