Pelvic muscle profile types in response to pelvic muscle exercise

Abstract

Abstract:The purpose of this research was to describe the contractile response of pelvic muscle to exercise (PME). Pelvic muscle pressure curves from ten randomly selected records from a larger study of 65 women with urodynamically demonstrated stress urinary incontinence (SUI) were analyzed. The subjects completed a PME protocol that lasted 16 weeks. Five pressure curves before and after 16 weeks of exercise were analyzed and classified according to pressure-time profile types. Descriptive statistics revealed decreases in urine loss variables and increases in pelvic muscle pressure curve variables. Changes in profile characteristics suggested an increase in type II muscle fiber recruitment; recruitment of type I fibers that appeared less fatigable; and increased contractile force of both type I and type II fibers. Changes were analyzed by descriptive statistics and by reference to putative types. Reference to profile types may be useful to PME prescription to enhance fiber type-specific performance.

Pelvic floor muscle strength and response to pelvic floor muscle training for stress urinary incontinence

“…Taylor and Henderson [1986] used surface EMG, and showed in a small study (N ¼ 13) that, urine loss decreased as PFM function increased. Boyington et al [1995], measuring vaginal squeeze pressure, did not ¢nd a correlation between increase in muscle strength and improvement in leakage. However, after dividing Sumscore is obtained by adding points for the following parameters: change of negative closure pressure to positive during cough, improvement measured by pad test, score 4 or 5 on patient's own assessment, improvement measured by leakage index, improvement measured by social activity index.…”

“…In addition, Bump et al [1991] showed that only 49% of the women able to contract the PFM performed a contraction e¡ective enough to increase urethral pressure. This may explain why some authors have failed to ¢nd correlation between increased vaginal pressure and reduction of leakage [Hahn et al, 1991;Dougherty et al, 1993;Boyington et al, 1995]. On the other hand, measurement of voluntary contraction in a supine position may not be a valid assessment of automatic co-contraction during increase in abdominal pressure in an upright position.…”

“…Previous studies analyzing the relation between muscle strength increase and reduction in urinary leakage have been £awed by small sample sizes [Hahn et al, 1991;Boyington et al, 1995]. In the present study, the two groups had followed the same exercise program, but at di¡erent intensities.…”

“…The results of the few published studies are contradictory. Dougherty et al [1993], Hahn et al [1991], and Boyington et al [1995] did not ¢nd any correlation between change in PFM strength and urine loss. However, modifying their analysis, Boyington et al [1995] found an association between decrease in urine loss variables and increases in pelvic PFM pressure curve variables.…”

Pelvic Muscle Exercise Effect on Pelvic Muscle Performance in Women

“…Boyington et al [34] studied the PM response to PME in 10 women (mean age 51.7 years) who participated in a larger study of 65 women with SUI [32]. Graphic representations of voluntary PM contractions obtained before and after a 16-week PME program were analyzed according to pressure±time pro®les.…”