title: Effects of the Paula method in electromyographic activation of the pelvic floor: a comparative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if Paula method of circular muscles contraction e.g., those surrounding the eyes, mouth and fingers, could increase pelvic floor muscle (PFM) activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four healthy, nulliparous volunteers were included, with an average age of 28 (± 5.9) years and body mass index of 23.8 (± 3.3) kg/m(2). They were assigned to randomly perform the sequence: a PFM maximal voluntary contraction, a contraction of circular muscles, followed by a simultaneous combination of PFM and circular muscle contraction. The PFM were evaluated using surface electromyography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PFM activity at baseline was 22.6 (± 10.9) μv. It was unchanged with Paula method contraction (p=0.322). There were also no differences between values of PFM maximal voluntary contraction alone, 99.8 (± 44.3) μv and in combination with the Paula method, 91.8 (± 35.3) μv (p=0.093).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Paula method seems not to increase PFM activity in nulliparous women.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics Department, Federal University of São Paulo, Rua Napoleão de Barros, 875, São Paulo, São Paulo, 04024-002, Brazil. anapaulamrb@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ana Paula M
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Resende
authors.forename: Míriam R D
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Zanetti
authors.forename: Carla D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Petricelli
authors.forename: Rodrigo A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Sandra M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Alexandre
authors.forename: Mary U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005143:Eyelids / Q000502:physiology; D005152:Facial Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005385:Fingers / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009055:Mouth / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000502:physiology*; D011897:Random Allocation; D055815:Young Adult