Top

Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Published in:

01-01-2016 | General Gynecology

Pelvic floor muscle electromyography during different running speeds: an exploratory and reliability study

Authors: Helena Luginbuehl, Rebecca Naeff, Anna Zahnd, Jean-Pierre Baeyens, Annette Kuhn, Lorenz Radlinger

Published in: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics | Issue 1/2016

Abstract

Purpose

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) affects women of all ages including young athletes, especially those involved in high-impact sports. To date, hardly any studies are available testing pelvic floor muscles (PFM) during sports activities. The aim of this study was the description and reliability test of six PFM electromyography (EMG) variables during three different running speeds. The secondary objective was to evaluate whether there was a speed-dependent difference between the PFM activity variables.

Methods

This trial was designed as an exploratory and reliability study including ten young healthy female subjects to characterize PFM pre-activity and reflex activity during running at 7, 9 and 11 km/h. Six variables for each running speed, averaged over ten steps per subject, were presented descriptively, tested regarding their reliability (Friedman, ICC, SEM, MD) and speed difference (Friedman).

Results

PFM EMG variables varied between 67.6 and 106.1 %EMG, showed no systematic error and were low for SEM and MD using the single value model. Applying the average model over ten steps, ICC (3,k) were >0.75 and SEM and MD about 50 % lower than for the single value model. Activity was found to be highest in 11 km/h.

Conclusion

EMG variables showed excellent ICC and very low SEM and MD. Further studies should investigate inter-session reliability and PFM reactivity patterns of SUI patients using the average over ten steps for each variable as it showed very high ICC and very low SEM and MD. Subsequently, longer running distances and other high-impact sports disciplines could be studied.

Haylen BT, de Ridder D, Freeman RM, Swift SE, Berghmans B, Lee J et al (2010) An International Urogynecological Association (IUGA)/International Continence Society (ICS) joint report on the terminology for female pelvic floor dysfunction. Neurourol Urodyn (Pract Guidel Rev) 29(1):4–20. doi:10.1002/nau.20798

Botlero R, Davis SR, Urquhart DM, Shortreed S, Bell RJ (2009) Age-specific prevalence of, and factors associated with, different types of urinary incontinence in community-dwelling Australian women assessed with a validated questionnaire. Maturitas 62:134–139. doi:10.1016/j.maturitas.2008.12.017 PubMedCrossRef

Bø K (2004) Urinary incontinence, pelvic floor dysfunction, exercise and sport. Sports Med 34:451–464PubMedCrossRef

Goldstick O, Constantini N (2014) Urinary incontinence in physically active women and female athletes. Br J Sports Med 48(4):296–298. doi:10.1136/bjsports-2012-091880 PubMedCrossRef

Fozzatti C, Riccetto C, Herrmann V et al (2012) Prevalence study of stress urinary incontinence in women who perform high-impact exercises. Int Urogynecol J 23:1687–1691. doi:10.1007/s00192-012-1786-z PubMedCrossRef

Luginbuehl H, Greter C, Gruenenfelder D, Baeyens JP, Kuhn A, Radlinger L (2013) Intra-session test–retest reliability of pelvic floor muscle electromyography during running. Int Urogynecol J 24(9):1515–1522. doi:10.1007/s00192-012-2034-2 PubMedCrossRef

Sjödahl J, Kvist J, Gutke A, Öberg B (2009) The postural response of the pelvic floor muscles during limb movements: a methodological electromyography study in parous women without lumbopelvic pain. Clin Biomech 24:183–189. doi:10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2008.11.004 CrossRef

Hodges PW, Sapsford R, Pengel LHM (2007) Postural and respiratory functions of the pelvic floor muscles. Neurourol Urodyn 26:362–371PubMedCrossRef

Komi PV (2000) Stretch-shortening cycle: a powerful model to study normal and fatigued muscle. J Biomech [Review] 33(10):1197–1206CrossRef

10.

Fleischmann J, Gehring D, Mornieux G, Gollhofer A (2010) Load-dependent movement regulation of lateral stretch shortening cycle jumps. Eur J Appl Physiol 110:177–187. doi:10.1007/s00421-010-1476-9 PubMedCrossRef

11.

Frawley HC, Galea MP, Phillips BA, Sherburn M, Bo K (2006) Effect of test position on pelvic floor muscle assessment. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct (Clin Trial) 17(4):365–371CrossRef

12.

Bo K, Sherburn M (2005) Evaluation of female pelvic-floor muscle function and strength. Phys Ther (Rev) 85(3):269–282

13.

Hermens HJ, Freriks B, Disselhorst-Klug C, Rau G (2000) Development of recommendations for SEMG sensors and sensor placement procedures. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 10(5):361–374PubMedCrossRef

14.

Grape HH, Dedering Å, Jonasson AF (2009) Retest reliability of surface electromyography on the pelvic floor muscles. Neurourol Urodyn 28:395–399. doi:10.1002/nau.20648 PubMedCrossRef

15.

Fleischmann J, Gehring D, Mornieux G, Gollhofer A (2011) Task-specific initial impact phase adjustments in lateral jumps and lateral landings. Eur J Appl Physiol 111:2327–2337. doi:10.1007/s00421-011-1861-z PubMedCrossRef

16.

Taube W, Leukel C, Schubert M, Gruber M, Rantalainen T, Gollhofer A (2008) Differential modulation of spinal and corticospinal excitability during drop jumps. J Neurophysiol 99(3):1243–1252. doi:10.1152/jn.01118.2007 PubMedCrossRef

17.

Arsenault AB, Winter DA, Marteniuk RG, Hayes KC (1986) How many strides are required for the analysis of electromyographic data in gait? Scand J Rehabil Med 18(3):133–135PubMed

18.

Faul F, Erdfelder E, Lang A, Buchner A (2009) Statistical power analyses using G*Power 3.1: tests for correlation and regression analyses. Behav Res Methods 41(4):1149–1160. doi:10.3758/BRM.41.4.1149 PubMedCrossRef

19.

Weir JP (2005) Quantifying test–retest reliability using the intraclass correlation coefficient and the SEM. J Strength Cond Res 19:231–240PubMed

20.

Shrout PE, Fleiss JL (1979) Intraclass correlations: uses in assessing rater reliability. Psychol Bull 86(2):420–428PubMedCrossRef

21.

Lauper M, Kuhn A, Gerber R, Luginbuehl H, Radlinger L (2009) Pelvic floor stimulation: what are the good vibrations? Neurourol Urodyn 28(5):405–410. doi:10.1002/nau.20669 PubMedCrossRef

22.

Nielsen J, Petersen N, Deuschl G, Ballegaard M (1993) Task-related changes in the effect of magnetic brain stimulation on spinal neurones in man. J Physiol 471:223–243

23.

Auchincloss CC, Mclean L (2009) The reliability of surface EMG recorded from pelvic floor muscles. J Neurosci Methods 282(1):85–96. doi:10.1016/j.jneumeth.2009.05.027 CrossRef

24.

Auchincloss C, McLean L (2012) Does the presence of a vaginal probe alter pelvic floor muscle activation in young, continent women? J Electromyogr Kinesiol 22(6):1003–1009. doi:10.1016/j.jelekin.2012.06.006 PubMedCrossRef

25.

Keller TS, Weisberger AM, Ray JL, Hasan SS, Shiavi RG, Spengler DM (1996) Relationship between vertical ground reaction force and speed during walking, slow jogging, and running. Clin Biomech 11:253–259CrossRef

26.

Byrne CA, Lyons GM, Donnelly AE, O’Keeffe DT, Hermens H, Nene A (2005) Rectus femoris surface myoelectric signal cross-talk during static contractions. J Electromyogr Kinesiol 15(6):564–575PubMedCrossRef

27.

Peschers UM, Gingelmaier A, Jundt K, Leib B, Dimpf T (2001) Evaluation of pelvic floor muscle strength using four different techniques. Int Urogynecol J 12:27–30CrossRef

28.

Wall-Scheffler CM, Chumanov E, Steudel-Numbers K, Heiderscheit B (2010) Electromyography activity across gait and incline: the impact of muscular activity on human morphology. Am J Phys Anthropol 143(4):601–611. doi:10.1002/ajpa.21356 PubMedPubMedCentralCrossRef

29.

Keshwani N, McLean L (2015) State of the art review: intravaginal probes for recording electromyography from the pelvic floor muscles. Neurourol Urodyn 34(2):104–112. doi:10.1002/nau.22529 PubMedCrossRef

30.

Wright IC, Neptune RR, van den Bogert AJ, Nigg BM (1998) Passive regulation of impact forces in hell-toe running. Clin Biomech 13:521–531CrossRef

31.

Shih Y, Lin KL, Shiang TY (2013) Is the foot striking pattern more important than barefoot or shod conditions in running? Gait Posture 38(3):490–494. doi:10.1016/j.gaitpost.2013.01.030 PubMedCrossRef

32.

Bø K (2004) Pelvic floor muscle training is effective in treatment of female stress urinary incontinence, but how does it work? Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 15(2):76–84PubMedCrossRef

Title: Pelvic floor muscle electromyography during different running speeds: an exploratory and reliability study
Authors: Helena Luginbuehl
Rebecca Naeff
Anna Zahnd
Jean-Pierre Baeyens
Annette Kuhn
Lorenz Radlinger
Publication date: 01-01-2016
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics / Issue 1/2016
Print ISSN: 0932-0067
Electronic ISSN: 1432-0711
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-015-3816-9

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Pelvic floor muscle electromyography during different running speeds: an exploratory and reliability study

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Purpose

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Please log in to get access to this content

Other articles of this Issue 1/2016

Primary debulking surgery vs. neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery for patients with advanced ovarian cancer

Biocompatible porcine dermis graft to treat severe cystocele: impact on quality of life and sexuality

Some clarifications on the Avicenna’s nationality

Restoring vaginal microbiota: biological control of bacterial vaginosis. A prospective case–control study using Lactobacillus rhamnosus BMX 54 as adjuvant treatment against bacterial vaginosis

Association of endometriosis and breast cancer: mini review of the literature

The nationality of Ibni Sina (Avicenna)