IT IS the ultimate way to escape Britain's April showers. Hampshire physiotherapist Ruth Jones has jetted off to sunny California for a six-month sabbatical at the prestigious Stanford University.

Ruth, 40, jumped at the chance to be involved in pioneering pelvic floor muscle research being undertaken by a team based at the university.

But she could not bear to be parted from her family for half a year - so husband Steven Lovegrove, 37, and their daughter Hannah, eight, are going, too.

The trio have just left their home in Bursledon for six months in the sunshine state.

Ruth, director of RJ Physiotherapy Ltd at the Hampshire Tennis and Health Club, West End, will spend six months helping to trial an internal probe, which will be used to measure pelvic floor muscles.

When she comes back, she will continue to use the pilot device, which is equipped with retractable sensors to detect pressure changes within the patient, such as during a cough or sneeze.

"We have found from a research prospective that we do not really have a good, reliable way of measuring pelvic floor muscles," said Ruth, whose specialist areas include the management of stress incontinence.

"The team at Stanford already have some prototypes they are developing, as they have been working on it for the last four years.

"I will be helping to develop the probe and testing it on women before returning to the UK to continue the trials, which should help measure the effect of my intervention."

Although Ruth will be away until September, it's business as usual for her team at RJ Physiotherapy.

For details call 023 8036 3009.