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Erschienen in: International Urogynecology Journal 11/2018

01.11.2018 | Original Article

Can maximal voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction reduce vaginal resting pressure and resting EMG activity?

verfasst von: Ingrid Naess, Kari Bø

Erschienen in: International Urogynecology Journal | Ausgabe 11/2018

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

The purpose of the present study was to assess whether attempts at a maximal voluntary pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction can reduce vaginal resting pressure (VRP) and surface EMG activity in women with and without provoked vestibulodynia (PVD).

Method

An assessor blinded comparison study included 35 women with and 35 women without PVD. VRP and PFM strength were measured with a high precision pressure transducer connected to a vaginal balloon (Camtech AS, Sandvika Norway). PFM activity was measured before and after three MVCs with surface EMG (NeuroTrac ETS™; Verity Medical, Romsey, UK). Paired sample t test was used to analyze differences within groups and independent sample t test to analyze differences between groups. p value was set at <0.05.

Results

Mean age of the participants was 24.3 years (SD 4.7) and mean BMI was 22.0 kg/m2 (SD 2.6). There were no significant differences between the groups in any background variables. PFM contraction led to a statistically significant reduction of VRP in both the PVD (p = 0.001) and the control group (p = 0.027). Surface EMG activity was significantly reduced in the PVD group only (p = 0.001).

Discussion

Young, nulliparous women with PVD had significantly lower vaginal resting pressure and sEMG activity after three maximum contractions of the PFM. The results indicate that attempts at voluntary maximal contractions may be investigated as a method of reducing PFM hypertonicity.
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Metadaten
Titel
Can maximal voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction reduce vaginal resting pressure and resting EMG activity?
verfasst von
Ingrid Naess
Kari Bø
Publikationsdatum
01.11.2018
Verlag
Springer London
Erschienen in
International Urogynecology Journal / Ausgabe 11/2018
Print ISSN: 0937-3462
Elektronische ISSN: 1433-3023
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-018-3599-1

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