title: Pelvic floor muscle evaluation in incontinent patients.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strength and perception and its correlation with stress urinary incontinence (SUI). One hundred and one women were divided into two groups according to the presence (G1=51 patients) or absence (G2=50 patients) of SUI. Subjective [urine stream interruption test (UST), visual survey of perineal contraction and transvaginal digital palpation to assess pelvic muscle contraction] and objective evaluations of pelvic floor muscles in all patients were performed (vaginal manometry). During the UST, 25.5% of G1 patients and 80% of G2 patients were able to interrupt the urine stream (p<0.05). Digital evaluation of pelvic muscular contraction showed higher strength in G2 than in G1 patients (p<0.0001). Perineometer evaluation of PFM strength was significantly higher in the continent group (p<0.001). Pelvic floor muscle weakness in incontinent patients demonstrates the importance of functional and objective evaluation of this group of muscles.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, Department of Urology, School of Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, 18618-970, Brazil. jamaro@fmb.unesp.br
authors.forename: João Luiz
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Amaro
authors.forename: Eliane Cristina Hilberath
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.forename: Mônica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Oliveira Orsi Gameiro
authors.forename: Carlos Roberto
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Padovani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008365:Manometry / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000503:physiopathology