Assessment of Involuntary PFM Contractions in Comparison with Existing Literature and IUGA/ICS Terminology Reports.

de Jong, J; Burkhard, F; Zwahlen, Marcel; Junginger, B; Dumoulin, C (2024). Assessment of Involuntary PFM Contractions in Comparison with Existing Literature and IUGA/ICS Terminology Reports. International urogynecology journal, 35(4), pp. 823-830. Springer 10.1007/s00192-024-05729-z

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INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

Involuntary pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contractions are thought to occur during an increase in intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). Although no studies have assessed their presence in women with normal pelvic floor (PF) function, existing literature links the absence of involuntary PFM contractions to various PF dysfunctions. This study rectifies this lacuna by evaluating involuntary PFM contractions during IAP in healthy nulliparous women with no PF dysfunction, using visual observation and vaginal palpation. Results were compared with the literature and the IUGA/ICS Terminology Reports.

METHODS

Nulliparous (n=149) women performed three sets of three maximal coughs. Visual observation and vaginal palpation were conducted in the standing and supine positions. The women were not instructed to contract their PFMs. Occurrence rates were calculated for each assessment method and position; differences between positions were analyzed using the Chi-squared test.

RESULTS

Rates of occurrence of involuntary PFM contraction were low across both assessments and positions (5-17%). Significant differences were found between standing (5%) and supine (15%) positions for visual observation, but not vaginal palpation (15%, 17% respectively). Occurrence rates also differed compared with the literature and terminology reports.

CONCLUSIONS

Contrary to clinical expectations, rates of occurrence of involuntary PFM contraction among our cohort of nulliparous women were extremely low. Digital palpation results showed high agreement with the terminology reports, but only partial agreement was observed for the visual observation results. Our study underscores the need for more research aimed at defining normal involuntary PF functions, a review of our understanding of involuntary PFM contractions, and better standardized guidelines for involuntary PFM assessment methods.

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

04 Faculty of Medicine > Pre-clinic Human Medicine > Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM)
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Dermatology, Urology, Rheumatology, Nephrology, Osteoporosis (DURN) > Clinic of Urology

Graduate School:

Graduate School for Health Sciences (GHS)

UniBE Contributor:

Burkhard, Fiona Christine, Zwahlen, Marcel

Subjects:

600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health
300 Social sciences, sociology & anthropology > 360 Social problems & social services

ISSN:

0937-3462

Publisher:

Springer

Language:

English

Submitter:

Pubmed Import

Date Deposited:

09 Feb 2024 08:29

Last Modified:

02 May 2024 13:29

Publisher DOI:

10.1007/s00192-024-05729-z

PubMed ID:

38329494

Additional Information:

Open access funding provided by University of Bern.

Uncontrolled Keywords:

Involuntary Pelvic floor muscle Reflex Terminology reports Vaginal palpation Visual observation

BORIS DOI:

10.48350/192708

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/192708

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