Is there correlation between electromyography and digital palpation as means of measuring pelvic floor muscle contractility in nulliparous, pregnant, and postpartum women?

Botelho, Simone; Pereira, Larissa; Marques, Joseane; Lanza, A; Amorim, César Ferreira; Palma, Paulo; Riccetto, Cássio

doi:10.1002/nau.22321

Cited by 48 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Currently, there is no evaluation tool that is considered the gold standard, which makes the comparison of results difficult and imprecise13. The International Continence Society recommends that functional evaluation of the pelvic floor should be performed through visual inspection, digital palpation, perineometry or electromyography14.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship among vaginal palpation, vaginal squeeze pressure, electromyographic and ultrasonographic variables of female pelvic floor muscles

Pereira¹,

Hirakawa²,

Oliveira³

et al. 2014

Braz. J. Phys. Ther.

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Background: The proper evaluation of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) is essential for choosing the correct treatment. Currently, there is no gold standard for the assessment of female PFM function. Objective: To determine the correlation between vaginal palpation, vaginal squeeze pressure, and electromyographic and ultrasonographic variables of the female PFM. Method: This cross-sectional study evaluated 80 women between 18 and 35 years of age who were nulliparous and had no pelvic floor dysfunction. PFM function was assessed based on digital palpation, vaginal squeeze pressure, electromyographic activity, bilateral diameter of the bulbocavernosus muscles and the amount of bladder neck movement during voluntary PFM contraction using transperineal bi-dimensional ultrasound. The Pearson correlation was used for statistical analysis (p<0.05). Results: There was a strong positive correlation between PFM function and PFM contraction pressure (0.90). In addition, there was a moderate positive correlation between these two variables and PFM electromyographic activity (0.59 and 0.63, respectively) and movement of the bladder neck in relation to the pubic symphysis (0.51 and 0.60, respectively). Conclusions: This study showed that there was a correlation between vaginal palpation, vaginal squeeze pressure, and electromyographic and ultrasonographic variables of the PFM in nulliparous women. The strong correlation between digital palpation and PFM contraction pressure indicated that perineometry could easily be replaced by PFM digital palpation in the absence of equipment.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship among vaginal palpation, vaginal squeeze pressure, electromyographic and ultrasonographic variables of female pelvic floor muscles

Pereira¹,

Hirakawa²,

Oliveira³

et al. 2014

Braz. J. Phys. Ther.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…However, other authors (20) reported a strong correlation between EMG and TDP in continent women without PFM disorders, showing that the best methods of PFM assessment are somehow controversial. In our study, we assessed PFM strength through transvaginal digital palpation in anterior and posterior areas and observed statistical concordance between both methods in 76% of cases, demonstrating that this assessment may be used in any of these positions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Pelvic floor muscle strength evaluation in different body positions in nulliparous healthy women and its correlation with sexual activity

et al. 2013

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Objective: The aim of this study was to assess pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength in different body positions in nulliparous healthy women and its correlation with sexual activity. Materials and Methods: Fifty healthy nulliparous women with mean age of 23 years were prospectively studied. Subjective evaluation of PFM was assessed by transvaginal digital palpation (TDP) of anterior and posterior areas regarding the vaginal introitus. A perineometer with inflatable vaginal probe was used to assess the PFM strength in four different positions: supine with extended lower limbs (P1); bent-knee supine (P2); sitting (P3); standing (P4). Results: Physical activity, 3 times per week, was reported by 58% of volunteers. Sexual activity was observed in 80% of women and 82% of them presented orgasm. The average body mass index (BMI) was 21.76 kg/m 2 , considered as normal according World Health Organization (WHO). We observed that 68% of volunteers were conscious about the PFM contraction. TDP showed concordance of 76% when anterior and posterior areas were compared (p = 0.00014). There was not correlation between PFM strength and orgasm in subjective evaluation. The PFM strength was significantly higher in standing position when compared with the other positions (p < 0.000). No statistical difference was observed between orgasm and PFM strength when objective evaluations were performed. Conclusions: There was concordance between anterior and posterior areas in 76% of cases when subjective PFM strength was assessed. In objective evaluation, higher PFM strength was observed when volunteers were standing. No statistical correlation was observed between PFM strength and orgasm in nulliparous healthy women.

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“…SEMG analyzes muscle function from its electrical activity [18] and 3DUS provides information on muscle position, thickness and size, i.e. anatomical information [19].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of pelvic floor of women runners by three-dimensional ultrasonography and surface electromyography. A pilot study

et al. 2014

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Aim: To evaluate female runners' pelvic floor muscles using three-dimensional ultrasonography (3DUS) and surface electromyography (SEMG). Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 24 female runners. SEMG was performed using surface electrodes inserted in the vagina. 3DUS was performed using perineal convex transducer. SEMG was evaluated at rest and with maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and slow contraction. Levator ani muscle thickness, levator hiatus area and the angle between the levator muscles at rest and with MVC and Valsalva were evaluated using 3DUS. The women were divided into two groups (women running ≤ 25 km/week; women running > 25 km/week). Means, standard deviations and non-paired t tests were used for both groups. Results: Among the 24 women, 11 ran ≤ 25 km/week (16.91 ± 4.13 km/week) and 13 ran > 25 km/week (40.77 ± 1.15 km/week). The mean SEMG at rest and with MVC and slow contraction were 16.25, 65.86 and 71.41 mV, respectively. For the levator hiatus area at rest and with MVC and Valsalva, the means were 12.54, 10.06 and 16.57 cm2, respectively. Correlations between 3DUS and SEMG showed significant differences in SEMG at rest and levator thickness with Valsalva (r = 0.46; p = 0.04). Conclusions: 3DUS and SEMG are two feasible methods for evaluating female runners' pelvic floor. Correlations between 3DUS and SEMG showed significant differences in SEMG at rest and levator thickness with Valsalva.Keywords: pelvic floor, women runners, three-dimensional ultrasound, surface electromyography.Assessment of pelvic floor of women runners by three-dimensional ultrasonography and surface electromyography. A pilot study.

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Is there correlation between electromyography and digital palpation as means of measuring pelvic floor muscle contractility in nulliparous, pregnant, and postpartum women?

Abstract: There was a correlation between pelvic floor muscle contractility measured by surface electromyography and by digital palpation. Both methods can be used to validate data in research and clinical setting.

Cited by 48 publications

References 21 publications

Relationship among vaginal palpation, vaginal squeeze pressure, electromyographic and ultrasonographic variables of female pelvic floor muscles

Relationship among vaginal palpation, vaginal squeeze pressure, electromyographic and ultrasonographic variables of female pelvic floor muscles

Pelvic floor muscle strength evaluation in different body positions in nulliparous healthy women and its correlation with sexual activity

Assessment of pelvic floor of women runners by three-dimensional ultrasonography and surface electromyography. A pilot study

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