Do Moderate Aerobic Exercise and Strength Training Influence Electromyographic Biofeedback of the Pelvic Floor Muscles in Female Non-athletes?

Overview

Journal J Phys Ther Sci

Date 2018 Mar 17

PMID 29545703

Citations 1

Authors

Maria Lucia Campos Goncalves

Samantha Fernandes

Joao Batista de Sousa

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

[Purpose] To assess the influence of moderate physical exercise on pelvic floor muscle electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback signal in female non-athletes. [Subjects and Methods] A prospective, non-randomized study of 90 adult females (age ≥18 years) divided into three groups: Intervention (I), which began physical exercise upon study enrollment; Moderate Exercise (ME), comprising those who already engaged in physical activity; and Sedentary (S), comprising those who had a sedentary lifestyle. All participants underwent EMG biofeedback of the pelvic floor muscles upon study enrollment (T1) and at the end of the third subsequent month (T2). [Results] Mean age was 35.7 (SD: 7.5) years, with no significant difference between groups. T1 values in groups I and S were significantly lower than in group ME. There was no statistically significant difference between groups S and I. On comparison between groups at T2, values were highest in group I (18.5 µV vs. 15.3 µV in group S, vs. 16.1 µV in group ME). There was no significant difference between groups S and ME. On age-adjusted analysis, group I exhibited the greatest change between T1 and T2 (I, 4.7 µV; ME, 2.1 µV; S, 1.5 µV). [Conclusion] Females who exercise exhibit better pelvic floor muscle function than those who do not engage in physical activity.

Citing Articles

Sexual Function, Physical Activity, Mean Amplitudes and Maximal Voluntary Contraction of Pelvic Floor Muscles Are Related to Handgrip Strength: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Duarte N, Bittencourt K, Soares C, Ferreira C, Soares W, Tavares V Healthcare (Basel). 2023; 11(1).

PMID: 36611588 PMC: 9818901. DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11010129.

References

Eliasson K, Nordlander I, Larson B, Hammarstrom M, Mattsson E . Influence of physical activity on urinary leakage in primiparous women. Scand J Med Sci Sports. 2005; 15(2):87-94. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0838.2004.407.x. View

Pate R, ONeill J, Lobelo F . The evolving definition of "sedentary". Exerc Sport Sci Rev. 2008; 36(4):173-8. DOI: 10.1097/JES.0b013e3181877d1a. View

Danforth K, Townsend M, Lifford K, Curhan G, Resnick N, Grodstein F . Risk factors for urinary incontinence among middle-aged women. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2006; 194(2):339-45. PMC: 1363686. DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2005.07.051. View

Haskell W, Lee I, Pate R, Powell K, Blair S, Franklin B . Physical activity and public health: updated recommendation for adults from the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2007; 39(8):1423-34. DOI: 10.1249/mss.0b013e3180616b27. View

Fozzatti C, Riccetto C, Herrmann V, Brancalion M, Raimondi M, Nascif C . Prevalence study of stress urinary incontinence in women who perform high-impact exercises. Int Urogynecol J. 2012; 23(12):1687-91. DOI: 10.1007/s00192-012-1786-z. View

Haylen B, Ridder D, Freeman R, Swift S, Berghmans B, Lee J . An International Urogynecological Association (IUGA)/International Continence Society (ICS) joint report on the terminology for female pelvic floor dysfunction. Int Urogynecol J. 2009; 21(1):5-26. DOI: 10.1007/s00192-009-0976-9. View

Soljanik I, Janssen U, May F, Fritsch H, Stief C, Weissenbacher E . Functional interactions between the fossa ischioanalis, levator ani and gluteus maximus muscles of the female pelvic floor: a prospective study in nulliparous women. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2012; 286(4):931-8. DOI: 10.1007/s00404-012-2377-4. View

Nygaard I, Thompson F, Svengalis S, Albright J . Urinary incontinence in elite nulliparous athletes. Obstet Gynecol. 1994; 84(2):183-7. View

Nygaard I . Does prolonged high-impact activity contribute to later urinary incontinence? A retrospective cohort study of female Olympians. Obstet Gynecol. 1997; 90(5):718-22. DOI: 10.1016/S0029-7844(97)00436-5. View

10.

Dimpfl T, Jaeger C, Mueller-Felber W, Anthuber C, Hirsch A, Brandmaier R . Myogenic changes of the levator ani muscle in premenopausal women: the impact of vaginal delivery and age. Neurourol Urodyn. 1998; 17(3):197-205. DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1520-6777(1998)17:3<197::aid-nau4>3.0.co;2-8. View

11.

Thyssen H, Clevin L, OLESEN S, Lose G . Urinary incontinence in elite female athletes and dancers. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2002; 13(1):15-7. DOI: 10.1007/s001920200003. View

12.

Quartly E, Hallam T, Kilbreath S, Refshauge K . Strength and endurance of the pelvic floor muscles in continent women: an observational study. Physiotherapy. 2010; 96(4):311-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.physio.2010.02.008. View

13.

Folland J, Williams A . The adaptations to strength training : morphological and neurological contributions to increased strength. Sports Med. 2007; 37(2):145-68. DOI: 10.2165/00007256-200737020-00004. View

14.

Bo K . Urinary incontinence, pelvic floor dysfunction, exercise and sport. Sports Med. 2004; 34(7):451-64. DOI: 10.2165/00007256-200434070-00004. View

15.

Hay J . Citius, altius, longius (faster, higher, longer): the biomechanics of jumping for distance. J Biomech. 1993; 26 Suppl 1:7-21. DOI: 10.1016/0021-9290(93)90076-q. View

16.

Rivalta M, Sighinolfi M, Micali S, De Stefani S, Torcasio F, Bianchi G . Urinary incontinence and sport: first and preliminary experience with a combined pelvic floor rehabilitation program in three female athletes. Health Care Women Int. 2010; 31(5):435-43. DOI: 10.1080/07399330903324254. View

17.

Ree M, Nygaard I, Bo K . Muscular fatigue in the pelvic floor muscles after strenuous physical activity. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2007; 86(7):870-6. DOI: 10.1080/00016340701417281. View

18.

Bo K, Stien R . Needle EMG registration of striated urethral wall and pelvic floor muscle activity patterns during cough, Valsalva, abdominal, hip adductor, and gluteal muscle contractions in nulliparous healthy females. Neurourol Urodyn. 1994; 13(1):35-41. DOI: 10.1002/nau.1930130106. View

19.

Sapsford R, Hodges P, Richardson C, Cooper D, Markwell S, Jull G . Co-activation of the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles during voluntary exercises. Neurourol Urodyn. 2001; 20(1):31-42. DOI: 10.1002/1520-6777(2001)20:1<31::aid-nau5>3.0.co;2-p. View

20.

Sung V, Hampton B . Epidemiology of pelvic floor dysfunction. Obstet Gynecol Clin North Am. 2009; 36(3):421-43. DOI: 10.1016/j.ogc.2009.08.002. View