title: Intra and inter-rater reliability study of pelvic floor muscle dynamometric measurements.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the intra and inter-rater reliability of pelvic floor muscle (PFM) dynamometric measurements for maximum and average strengths, as well as endurance.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of 18 nulliparous women, without any urogynecological complaints, aged between 19 and 31 (mean age of 25.4 ± 3.9) participated in this study. They were evaluated using a pelvic floor dynamometer based on load cell technology. The dynamometric evaluations were repeated in three successive sessions: two on the same day with a rest period of 30 minutes between them, and the third on the following day. All participants were evaluated twice in each session; first by examiner 1 followed by examiner 2. The vaginal dynamometry data were analyzed using three parameters: maximum strength, average strength, and endurance. The Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) was applied to estimate the PFM dynamometric measurement reliability, considering a good level as being above 0.75.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The intra and inter-raters' analyses showed good reliability for maximum strength (ICC(intra-rater1)=0.96, ICC(intra-rater2)=0.95, and ICC(inter-rater)=0.96), average strength (ICC(intra-rater1)=0.96, ICCi(ntra-rater2)=0.94, and ICC(inter-rater)=0.97), and endurance (ICC(intra-rater1)=0.88, ICC(intra-rater2)=0.86, and ICC(inter-rater)=0.92) dynamometric measurements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The PFM dynamometric measurements showed good intra- and inter-rater reliability for maximum strength, average strength and endurance, which demonstrates that this is a reliable device that can be used in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Natalia M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Martinho
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joseane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Valéria R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia L A
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Leonardo C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, MG, Brazil.
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Botelho
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053580:Muscle Strength; D053581:Muscle Strength Dynamometer; D015588:Observer Variation; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000502:physiology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult