OBJECTIVES: To describe the maximal strength and endurance of the pelvic floor muscles in a cohort of women with no history of incontinence; and to determine the effect of age, parity, hormonal status, previous gynaecological surgery and regular performance of pelvic floor muscle exercises on the strength and endurance of these muscles. DESIGN: Preliminary cross-sectional observational study. SETTING: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-eight women aged 19 to 58 years, 16 of whom were under 40 years of age. Participants were excluded if they had a history of incontinence or were currently menstruating. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Pelvic floor muscle strength assessed using a perineometer, and pelvic floor muscle endurance above 60% of maximal voluntary contraction. SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The effect of age, parity, hormonal status, previous gynaecological surgery and regular performance of pelvic floor muscle exercises on the strength and endurance of these muscles. RESULTS: Maximum strength of the pelvic floor muscles was not correlated with endurance (r=0.21, P=0.290) or age (r=-0.31, P=0.107); however, it was influenced by parity (r=-0.44, P=0.020). Endurance was significantly and positively correlated with age (r=0.38, P=0.048). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary data that age and parity may be important factors in pelvic floor muscle performance in women who are continent. A larger study that considers the variability associated with these variables will provide useful guidelines for prescription of exercise.
OBJECTIVES: To describe the maximal strength and endurance of the pelvic floor muscles in a cohort of women with no history of incontinence; and to determine the effect of age, parity, hormonal status, previous gynaecological surgery and regular performance of pelvic floor muscle exercises on the strength and endurance of these muscles. DESIGN: Preliminary cross-sectional observational study. SETTING: Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-eight women aged 19 to 58 years, 16 of whom were under 40 years of age. Participants were excluded if they had a history of incontinence or were currently menstruating. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Pelvic floor muscle strength assessed using a perineometer, and pelvic floor muscle endurance above 60% of maximal voluntary contraction. SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: The effect of age, parity, hormonal status, previous gynaecological surgery and regular performance of pelvic floor muscle exercises on the strength and endurance of these muscles. RESULTS: Maximum strength of the pelvic floor muscles was not correlated with endurance (r=0.21, P=0.290) or age (r=-0.31, P=0.107); however, it was influenced by parity (r=-0.44, P=0.020). Endurance was significantly and positively correlated with age (r=0.38, P=0.048). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides preliminary data that age and parity may be important factors in pelvic floor muscle performance in women who are continent. A larger study that considers the variability associated with these variables will provide useful guidelines for prescription of exercise.
Authors: Emily N B Myer; Jennifer L Roem; David A Lovejoy; Melinda G Abernethy; Joan L Blomquist; Victoria L Handa Journal: Am J Obstet Gynecol Date: 2018-06-11 Impact factor: 8.661
Authors: Christiana Campani Nygaard; Cornelia Betschart; Ahmed A Hafez; Erica Lewis; Ilias Chasiotis; Stergios K Doumouchtsis Journal: Int Urogynecol J Date: 2013-07-17 Impact factor: 2.894
Authors: Tomasz Halski; Lucyna Słupska; Robert Dymarek; Janusz Bartnicki; Urszula Halska; Agata Król; Małgorzata Paprocka-Borowicz; Janusz Dembowski; Romuald Zdrojowy; Kuba Ptaszkowski Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2014-02-19 Impact factor: 3.411