## 4 Discussion
These instructions could have constituted a learning process that favors the reduction in VRP. Like our results, the recent study by [PERSON] et al. [27] evaluated the effectiveness of an educational intervention with and without postural correction of females with UI for this variable. Their findings showed that VRP, next to resting PFM tension, was lower in all females, with and without postural corrections, after the educational intervention. Participants also improved their quality of life. In the literature, results regarding this variable are controversial. In a study by [PERSON] et al. [28] both the group that underwent specific SP training and the control group reduced their VRP. However, [PERSON] et al. [29] observed the opposite results even though the intervention was similar. In this line, [PERSON] et al. [30] investigated the variation in VRP after strenuous exercise and concluded that the SP musculature may also reach a fatigue point and thus, a decrease in VRP values after training. This finding would be in line with our results because all participants in our study were athletes who practiced and competed in athletics. In any case, future studies should clarify the importance of these values for PF function and the direction of the changes after training. With respect to the ultrasound examination, no significant differences were observed. As mentioned above, if a 6-week exercise program is not enough to produce muscle hypertrophy, any structural modification could be measurable by ultrasound. Furthermore, [PERSON] et al. [31] observed a significant increase in the thickness of the levator ani muscle after a 12-week intervention program. Thus, even for the trained population like female athletes, a period of intervention of 6 weeks seems insufficient to observe structural differences in pelvic floor musculature. Also, we should highlight the complexity of the sonography as an important issue to consider when reporting pre-post measurements. Anatomical assessment using ultrasound is difficult due to the complex shape of the pelvic floor muscles and their central position in the pelvis, which makes them difficult to visualize [32]. In addition, despite the high definition of the image, maintaining probe stability on introial sonography is difficult during coughing or Valsalva maneuvers and thus, small displacements are likely to occur [33]. It is important to highlight the compliance of the participants for the exercise program. We proposed that the athletes perform the exercise program three times per week. Eleven athletes from EG1 and ten athletes from EG2 were able to keep the proposal during the 6 weeks (twice to three or three times). Only two athletes from EG abandoned our study (6.9%). These data refer to a high percentage of compliance with the proposed exercise program in comparison with previous studies. The study by [PERSON] et al. [34] experienced a loss of 16.3%, and the study by [PERSON] et al. [35] showed 20.0% of participants abandoning the program. This aspect is a very relevant finding due to the difficulty in keeping participants motivated to perform exercises every week. So much so that many authors often adopt strategies to ensure adherence to their home programs like biweekly retests [36], or a previous health education program [35]. In our study, the use of the smartphone application allowed us to weekly provide athletes with informative pillsrelated to anatomy, function, and care of PF, apart from using innovative resources like 3D models or avatars. In line with this high adherence, it is worth mentioning that the application was created and designed specifically for female athletes, which is reflected in the high scores for usability and satisfaction with its use. Direct communication with health professionals has been a resource widely used by athletes. This close but not face-to-face contact with health providers has overcome the obstacle to adherence posed by some socio-structural factors and previous beliefs of the sportswomen [34].