Electromyographic analysis of pelvic floor muscles during the execution of pelvic patterns of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation-concept: An observational study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of pelvic patterns of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF-concept) on pelvic floor muscles (PFM) recruitment, as well as the electromyographic activity of muscles synergic to the pelvic floor in healthy women. METHODS: Observational study conducted with 31 women aged between 18 and 35 years, with mean age of 23.3 ± 3.2 (22.1-24.4). PFM activity was monitored by surface electromyography during the combination of isotonics technique of four pelvic patterns of PNF-concept (i.e., anterior elevation, posterior depression, anterior depression, and posterior elevation). The electromyographic signal was analyzed using root mean square amplitude. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance was performed to analyze differences in PFM activity between types of contraction (i.e., concentric, isometric, and eccentric) and the four pelvic patterns. RESULTS: PFM activity did not differ among the four pelvic pattens. However, PFM activity was significantly different between the combination of isotonics technique and baseline, F(1.6, 48.2) = 71.5; p < 0.000, with a large effect size (partial ƞ² = 0.705). Concentric (22.4 µV ± 1.1), isometric (17.3 µV ± 0.6), and eccentric (15 µV ± 0.5) contractions of combination of isotonics technique increased PFM activity compared with baseline (10.8 µV ± 0.4) in all pelvic patterns. By analyzing the electromyographic activity of the muscles synergistic to the pelvic floor, there is effect of the interaction of the type of contraction, the pelvic pattern of the PNF concept, and the synergistic muscles on the myoelectric activity of the external anal sphincter, F(3.2, 96.5) = 5.6; p < 0.000, with a large magnitude of effect (partial ƞ² = 0.15). In the anterior elevation pattern, the muscles synergistic to the pelvic floor present synergy in phase with the PFM, and in the posterior patterns there was a decrease in the activity level of all synergistic muscles, without changing the activity level of the PFM. CONCLUSION: PFM activity did not differ among the four pelvic patterns of PNF-concept. Nonetheless, the combination of isotonics technique showed a significant effect on PFM compared with baseline, with greater PFM activity during concentric contraction. Pelvic patterns of PNF-concept may be used to increase PFM recruitment in young healthy women.