Pattern of activation of pelvic floor muscles in men differs with verbal instructions.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of instruction on activation of pelvic floor muscles (PFM) in men as quantified by transperineal ultrasound imaging (US) and to validate these measures with invasive EMG recordings.


METHODS
Displacement of pelvic floor landmarks on transperineal US, intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) recorded with a nasogastric transducer, and surface EMG of the abdominal muscles and anal sphincter were recorded in 15 healthy men during sub-maximal PFM contractions in response to different verbal instructions: "tighten around the anus," "elevate the bladder," "shorten the penis," and "stop the flow of urine." In three men, fine-wire EMG recordings were made from puborectalis and bulbocavernosus, and trans-urethral EMG recordings from the striated urethral sphincter (SUS). Displacement data were validated by analysis of relationship with invasive EMG. Displacement, IAP, and abdominal/anal EMG were compared between instructions.


RESULTS
Displacement of pelvic landmarks correlated with the EMG of the muscles predicted anatomically to affect their locations. Greatest dorsal displacement of the mid-urethra and SUS activity was achieved with the instruction "shorten the penis." Instruction to "elevate the bladder" induced the greatest increase in abdominal EMG and IAP. "Tighten around the anus" induced greatest anal sphincter activity.


CONCLUSIONS
The pattern of urethral movement measured from transperineal US is influenced by the instructions used to teach activation of the pelvic floor muscles in men. Efficacy of PFM training may depend on the instructions used to train activation. Instructions that optimize activation of muscles with a potential to increase urethral pressure without increasing abdominal EMG/IAP are likely ideal. Neurourol. Urodynam. 35:457-463, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The University of Queensland, Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Brisbane, Australia.
Ryan E
RE
Stafford
Departments of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, Institute of Gerontology, The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
James A
JA
Ashton-Miller
Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California.
Chris
C
Constantinou
Department of Urology, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
Geoff
G
Coughlin
Department of Colorectal Surgery, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
Nicholas J
NJ
Lutton
The University of Queensland, Centre for Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Brisbane, Australia.
Paul W
PW
Hodges
D000328:Adult; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D010502:Perineum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
electromyography; male; pelvic floor exercise; prostatectomy; ultrasound imaging; urinary incontinence