ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate changes of surface electromyogr8phic(sEM G)signal of pelvic floor muscles in complete spinal cord injury(cSCI)patients with neurogenic bowel dysfunction.Methods Fifteen hospitalized patients with cSCI(observation group)and fifteen normal subjects(control group)were involved in this study.The root mean square(RMS)of sEMG signals were collected at pelvic floor muscles with rectal surface electrode when subjects'pelvic floor muscles were rest(10 s),fleetly contract(2 s×3),continually contract(10 s).Both groups'data of different contracting states of pelvic floor muscles were analyzed and compared.Results The max RMS and average RMS(16.61±2.83,13.52±2.22)at pelvic floor muscles'rest in observation group were higher than that in control group(8.41±5.55,3.45±1.53).There was statistical difference between two groups(P<0.01).In the subjects of observation group max RMS and average RMS(20.24±13.99,13.36±2.39)at continual contraction and average RMS(13.40±2.31)at fleet contraction were nearly the same as RMS value at pelvic floor muscles'rest.There was no statistical difference between these two states(P>0.05).Conclusion The sEMG could be a quantitative index in assessing function of pelvic floor muscles and the neurogenic bowel dysfunction after cSCI.It can supply some clinical value in framing the training of pelvic floor muscles and improving the bowel dysfunction.