title: Simple test of pelvic muscle contraction during pelvic examination: correlation to surface electromyography.
abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the utility of a "Kegel" contraction test in a primary care setting. Fifty-seven adult women completed a questionnaire, underwent pelvic examination, "Kegel" assessment, and measurement of same by vaginal sensor electromyography. Thirty-seven underwent repeat evaluations within 4 weeks. Inter- and intra-rater reliability of digital scale, intra-rater reliability for sEMG measurement, correlation between raters and sEMG, and correlation between scale scores and sEMG with history and pelvic exam were determined. Fifty-six percent were pre-menopausal, 44% post-menopausal. Urinary (62%) and rectal (37%) dysfunction were reported. Inter-rater reliability, intra-observer reproducibility for both raters and sEMG measurements, and correlation between raters and sEMG were significant (P< 0.05). Comparison of continence status and digital scores showed scores </=4 were more frequently associated with reported urinary incontinence (P<0.05). sEMG data also correlated to hormonal status and parity (P < 0.05). This digital scale is a useful assessment of "Kegel" contraction, correlating well to sEMG vaginal sensor readings and self-reported overall urinary continence status. Neurourol. Urodynam. 18:603-612, 1999.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Urogynecology, The New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Romanzi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polaneczky
authors.forename: H I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Glazer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D010388:Pelvis; D017698:Postmenopause; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000175:diagnosis*