Training through gametherapy promotes coactivation of the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles in young women, nulliparous and continents

ABSTRACT Introduction and objectives: Several studies have been investigated co-activation can enhance the effectveness of PFM training protocols allowing preventive and therapeutic goals in pelvic floor dysfunctions. The objective of the present study was to investigate if an abdominal-pelvic protocol of training (APT) using gametherapy would allow co-activation of PFM and transversus abdominis/oblique internal (TrA/OI) muscles. Patients and methods: Twenty-five nulliparous, continent, young females, with median age 24.76 (±3.76) years were evaluated using digital palpation (DP) of PFM and surface electromyography of PFM and TrA/OI simultaneously, during maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), alternating PFM and TrA/OI contraction requests. All women participated on a supervised program of APT using gametherapy, that included exercises of pelvic mobilization associated to contraction of TrA/OI muscles oriented by virtual games, for 30 minutes, three times a week, in a total of 10 sessions. Electromyographic data were processed and analyzed by ANOVA - analysis of variance. Results: When MVC of TrA/OI was solicited, it was observed simultaneous increase of electromyographic activity of PFM (p=0.001) following ATP. However, EMG activity did not change significantly during MVC of PFM. Conclusion: Training using gametherapy allowed better co-activation of pelvic floor muscles in response to contraction of TrA, in young nulliparous and continent women.

The effects of training by virtual reality or gym ball on pelvic floor muscle strength in postmenopausal women: a randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of abdominopelvic training by virtual reality compared to pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) using a gym ball (a previously tested and efficient protocol) on postmenopausal women’s pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength. Method A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 60 postmenopausal women, randomly allocated into two groups: Abdominopelvic training by virtual reality – APT_VR (n=30) and PFMT using a gym ball – PFMT_GB (n=30). Both types of training were supervised by the same physical therapist, during 10 sessions each, for 30 minutes. The participants’ PFM strength was evaluated by digital palpation and vaginal dynamometry, considering three different parameters: maximum strength, average strength and endurance. An intention-to-treat approach was used to analyze the participants according to original groups. Results No significant between-group differences were observed in most analyzed parameters. The outcome endurance was higher in the APT_VR group (p=0.003; effect size=0.89; mean difference=1.37; 95% CI=0.46 to 2.28). Conclusion Both protocols have improved the overall PFM strength, suggesting that both are equally beneficial and can be used in clinical practice. Muscle endurance was higher in patients who trained using virtual reality.

Inserção de um programa de treinamento dos músculos do assoalho pélvico na Atenção Básica à Saúde para mulheres na pós-menopausa / Insertion of a pelvic floor muscle training program for postmenopausal women in Primary Health Care

Objetivo: Avaliar a efetividade da inserção de um programa de treinamento dos músculos do assoalho pélvico (TMAP) na Atenção Básica à Saúde (ABS) sobre os sintomas urinários e sobre a força muscular e atividade eletromiográfica em mulheres na pós-menopausa. Métodos: Ensaio clínico, randomizado com 42 mulheres na pós-menopausa divididas em dois grupos: Grupo tratado (GT) (n = 21) e Grupo Controle (GC) (n = 21). A avaliação foi realizada através dos questionários de sintomas urinários (ICIQ-UI SF e ICIQ-OAB), palpação digital, eletromiografia (EMG) dos músculos do assoalho pélvico (MAP) e escala analógica visual para satisfação do tratamento. O protocolo de tratamento consistiu de 12 sessões em grupo de 30 minutos. A análise estatística foi realizada pelo Teste de Comparação Múltipla de Tukey, Anova e Teste Perfil de Contrastes. Resultados: 85,72% das mulheres do GT aderiram ao tratamento. A satisfação foi significativamente melhor neste grupo (p < 0,001). No GT, houve decréscimo significativo dos sintomas de IU, com diferença entre o GT e o GC (ICIQ-UI-SF: p = 0,03; ICIQOAB: p = 0,002), diminuição do escore ICIQ-OAB (p < 0,001) e aumento tanto da força muscular avaliada por meio da palpação digital (p = 0,001) quanto da atividade eletromiográfica dos MAP (p = 0,003). Conclusão: A inserção do TMAP em um programa de atenção básica à saúde foi capaz de diminuir a incontinência urinária, além de aumentar a força muscular e atividade eletromiográfica dos músculos do assoalho pélvico em mulheres na pós-menopausa. (AU)

Aim: To evaluate the efficacy of a pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) program on urinary symptoms, muscle strength and electromyographic activity in postmenopausal women in a Primary Health Care Center. Methods: A clinical, randomized study was conducted with 42 postmenopausal women, divided into two groups: Treatment Group (TG) (n = 21) and Control Group (CG) (n = 21). The evaluation was performed using digital palpation, pelvic floor electromyography (EMG), as well as the validated questionnaires: ICIQ-UI SF, ICIQ-OAB. The treatment protocol consisted of 12 group sessions, twice a week, with 30 minutes of duration each. The statistical analyses were performed using Anova, Tukey's Multiple Comparison Test and the Contrast Profile Test. Results: 85.72% of the women in TG adhered to the treatment. The satisfaction was significantly higher in this group (p < 0.001). In TG, there was a significant decrease in the UI symptoms (ICIQ UI-SF), with difference between the TG and CG (p = 0.03) and a decrease in ICIQ-OAB score (p < 0.001) and increase in the pelvic floor muscles strength assessed by digital palpation (p = 0.001) and electromyographic activity (p = 0.003). Conclusion: The insertion of the PFMT was able to decrease UI and to increase muscle strength and electromyographic activity in postmenopausal women. (AU)

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

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. .