Intra and inter-rater reliability study of pelvic floor muscle dynamometric measurements

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the intra and inter-rater reliability of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) dynamometric measurements for maximum and average strengths, as well as endurance. METHOD: A convenience sample of 18 nulliparous women, without any urogynecological complaints, aged between 19 and 31 (mean age of 25.4±3.9) participated in this study. They were evaluated using a pelvic floor dynamometer based on load cell technology. The dynamometric evaluations were repeated in three successive sessions: two on the same day with a rest period of 30 minutes between them, and the third on the following day. All participants were evaluated twice in each session; first by examiner 1 followed by examiner 2. The vaginal dynamometry data were analyzed using three parameters: maximum strength, average strength, and endurance. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) was applied to estimate the PFM dynamometric measurement reliability, considering a good level as being above 0.75. RESULTS: The intra and inter-raters' analyses showed good reliability for maximum strength (ICCintra-rater1=0.96, ICCintra-rater2=0.95, and ICCinter-rater=0.96), average strength (ICCintra-rater1=0.96, ICCintra-rater2=0.94, and ICCinter-rater=0.97), and endurance (ICCintra-rater1=0.88, ICCintra-rater2=0.86, and ICCinter-rater=0.92) dynamometric measurements. CONCLUSIONS: The PFM dynamometric measurements showed good intra- and inter-rater reliability for maximum strength, average strength and endurance, which demonstrates that this is a reliable device that can be used in clinical practice.

The evaluation of pelvic floor muscle strength in women with pelvic floor dysfunction: A reliability and correlation study

“…Our results showed good ( r 2 = 0.75) agreement between manometry and dynamometry, when peak values are used, which suggests that both are suitable tools for measuring PFM strength during maximum contraction efforts performed by women with PFD. Non‐commercial dynamometry has previously been investigated . Consistent with our results, Morin et al reported a Pearson's correlation ( r s ) of 0.564 between modified Oxford Grading Scale and dynamometry, and found lower correlation values in incontinent than in continent women ( r s = 0.450 vs r s = 0.727).…”

Abdominopelvic kinesiotherapy for pelvic floor muscle training: a tested proposal in different groups

“…Digital palpation [9] in addition to either surface electromyography [10] or vaginal dynamometry [11] was used to investigate their PFM strength.…”

“…Surface electromyography (EMG System do Brasil®) was performed based on a study by Botelho and collaborators [10], using a vaginal probe (Physio-Med Services®), whereas vaginal dynamometry was used in postmenopausal women, using the methodology described by Martinho and collaborators [11].…”

Test‐retest reliability of the different dynamometric variables used to evaluate pelvic floor musculature during the menstrual cycle

“…These sensors are located in the base of the speculum of the equipment which is insert into the vagina, that is, far from the point where the branch receives the PFM force of contraction. 7,[9][10][11][12] This characteristic of the equipment increases the chance of measurement error if there is variation in the distance between the point where the speculum of the equipment receives the force of the PFM and the place where the strain gauges are fixed.…”