Relationship between aerobic capacity and pelvic floor muscles function: a cross-sectional study

The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between aerobic capacity and pelvic floor muscles (PFM) function in adult women. Women aged 18 or over and without urinary dysfunction or other chronic diseases were eligible to participate. They completed the habitual physical activity (HPA) questionnaire, underwent a PFM functional evaluation by palpation and perineometry, and performed a submaximal (between 75 and 85% of maximum heart rate) cardiopulmonary exercise (CPX) test to determine the ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT). Forty-one women were included (35±16 years, 75% physically active, 17% very active, and 8% sedentary and 17% presented grade 1 PFM contraction, 31.8% grade 2, 26.8% grade 3, and 24.4% grade 4, according to the modified Oxford Scale). The average PFM contraction pressure obtained by perineometer was 53±26 cmH2O and the average oxygen consumption at VAT (VO2VAT) obtained from CPX was 14±2 mL·kg-1·min-1. Significant correlations were found between PFM contraction pressure and VO2VAT (r=0.55; P<0.001); between PFM contraction pressure and HPA score (r=0.38; P=0.02); between age and VO2VAT (r=-0.25; P=0.049); and between VO2VAT and HPA score (r=0.36; P=0.02). An age-adjusted multiple linear regression equation (R2=0.32) was derived to estimate VO2VAT from the contraction value obtained by perineometer, so that the PFM contraction pressure was able to predict VO2VAT. The equation was validated using data from another group of 20 healthy women (33±12 years; PFM contraction: 49±23 cmH2O) and no significant difference was found between actual VO2VAT and predicted VO2VAT (13.1±1.9 vs 13.8±2.0 mL·kg-1·min-1). In conclusion, PFM function is associated with aerobic capacity in healthy women and PFM contraction pressure may be used to estimate VO2VAT in this population.

Efectos de la electroestimulación superficial en las mujeres mayores con incontinencia urinaria de esfuerzo: estudio piloto aleatorio controlado / Effects of Surface Electrical Stimulation in Older Women With Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study

Objetivos: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar los efectos de la estimulación eléctrica de superficie en mujeres con incontinencia urinaria de esfuerzo (IUE) sin compararla con ningún tratamiento. Material y métodos: Este estudio piloto, aleatorio y controlado, incluyó mujeres mayores de 60 años con al menos un episodio de fuga de orina de esfuerzo durante el mes anterior. Catorce mujeres fueron distribuidas aleatoriamente en 2 grupos: estimulación eléctrica de superficie (EES) y grupo control (GC). Las mujeres en el grupo EES fueron tratadas con estimulación eléctrica de superficie con 4 electrodos durante 6 semanas, con 2 sesiones semanales de20 min. Fueron evaluadas antes y después del tratamiento para el resultado primario, la pérdida de orina, y para los secundarios, mediante el Cuestionario de Salud de King, presión de la contracción y la satisfacción subjetiva. Resultados: Para el escape de orina se observó una disminución significativa en el grupo EES después del tratamiento (p = 0,017). Se apreciaron diferencias significativas entre el grupo EES y GC en la evaluación después del tratamiento (p < 0,01; tamaño del efecto:−1,38,IC del 95% de 1,18 a 14,14). No se observaron diferencias significativas en ambos grupos para el resultado de presión de la contracción. En la calidad de vida se constató una reducción significativa de la puntuación en el dominio de la gravedad para el grupo EES después del tratamiento (p = 0,017).Conclusiones: Los resultados demostraron que la estimulación eléctrica de superficie en mujeres con IUE puede ser un método eficaz para la mejora de las pérdidas de orina (AU)

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of surface electrical stimulation in elderly women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) as compared to no treatment. Materials and methods: This randomized controlled pilot study included women over the age of 60 years, with at least one episode of stress urinary leakage during the previous month. Fourteen women were allocated according to a computer generated randomization list in two groups: surface electrical stimulation (SES), and control group (CG). The women in the SES group were treated with surface electrical stimulation using four electrodes, during six weeks with two weekly sessions of 20 minutes each. They were evaluated before and after treatment primary outcome, urinary leakage, and secondary outcomes, King’s Health Questionnaire, pressure perineometry, and subjective satisfaction. Results: For the urinary leakage, there was a significant decrease in SES group after treatment (P = 0.017). Significant differences were observed between the SES group and CG in the evaluation after treatment (P <0 .01; effect size: -1,38; 95% confidence interval from 1,18 to 14,14). No significant differences were observed in both groups for the outcome pelvic floor muscle pressure. In the evaluation of quality of life, a significant reduction of score in the gravity domain was observed for the SES group after treatment (P = 0.017). Conclusion: The results of this study showed that surface electrical stimulation in elderly women with SUI can be an effective method for the improvement of urinary leakage (AU)