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Assessment of pelvic floor muscle contraction in stress urinary incontinent women: comparison between transabdominal ultrasound and perineometry

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

Transabdominal (TA) ultrasound and perineometry have been currently used to assess lifting aspect and squeezing action of pelvic floor muscles (PFM) function, respectively, in women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). However, no study has directly compared these measurements. The purpose of this study was to investigate the reliability and correlation between perineometry and TA ultrasound as measurements of different aspect of PFM function.

Methods

A total of 28 women with SUI participated in the study. Vaginal squeeze pressure using a perineometer and bladder base movement on TA ultrasound was measured. Scattergram was depicted to determine the correlation between variables. Intraclass correlation coefficient and Bland–Altman plot were used to assess reliability.

Results

Scatter diagram depicted significant correlation of TA ultrasound with vaginal squeeze pressure (r = 0.72, R 2 = 0.52, p < 0.0001). High reliability was found for measurements.

Conclusion

TA ultrasound measurement may be an alternative measurement to perineometry when assessing PFM function.

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Acknowledgment

The authors would like to acknowledge the staff of the physiotherapy department at the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences for their cooperation.

Conflicts of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran

    Mahshid Chehrehrazi

  2. Department of Physical Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Evin, Koodakyar Ave., 1985713831, Tehran, Iran

    Amir Massoud Arab & Noureddin Karimi

  3. Department of Urology, Ali-Asghar Hospital, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

    Mahtab Zargham

Authors
  1. Mahshid Chehrehrazi
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  2. Amir Massoud Arab
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  3. Noureddin Karimi
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  4. Mahtab Zargham
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amir Massoud Arab.

Additional information

This research was reviewed and approved by the Human Subject Committee at University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences.

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Chehrehrazi, M., Arab, A.M., Karimi, N. et al. Assessment of pelvic floor muscle contraction in stress urinary incontinent women: comparison between transabdominal ultrasound and perineometry. Int Urogynecol J 20, 1491–1496 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-009-0977-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-009-0977-8

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