title: Surface electromyography and ultrasound evaluation of pelvic floor muscles in hyperandrogenic women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  High levels of androgens increase muscle mass. Due to the characteristics of hyperandrogenism in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), it is plausible that women with PCOS may have increased pelvic floor muscle (PFM) thickness and neuromuscular activity levels compared with controls. The aim of this study was to assess PFM thickness and neuromuscular activity among hyperandrogenic women with PCOS and controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an observational, cross-sectional, case-control study evaluating PFM by ultrasound (US) and surface electromyography (sEMG) in nonobese women with and without PCOS. Seventy-two women were divided into two groups: PCOS (n = 33) and controls (n = 39). PFM thickness during contraction was assessed by US (Vingmed CFM 800). Pelvic floor muscle activity was assessed by sEMG (MyoTrac Infinit) during contractions at different time lengths: quick, and 8 and 60 s. Descriptive analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Student's t test were used for statistical analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in PFM sEMG activity between PCOS and controls in any of the contractions: quick contraction (73.23 mV/ 71.56 mV; p = 0.62), 8 s (55.77 mV/ 54.17 mV; p = 0.74), and 60 s (49.26 mV/ 47.32 mV; p = 0.68), respectively. There was no difference in PFM thickness during contractions evaluated by US between PCOS and controls (12.78 mm/ 13.43 mm; p =  .48).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study did not find statistically significant differences in pelvic floor muscle thickness or in muscle activity between PCOS women and controls.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation and Functional Performance, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900 Monte Alegre, 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Flávia Ignácio Antonio
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Vassimon
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation and Functional Performance, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900 Monte Alegre, 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. cristine@fmrp.usp.br.
authors.forename: Cristine Homsi Jorge
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900 Monte Alegre, 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wellington Paula
authors.initials: WP
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900 Monte Alegre, 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rui Alberto
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Ferriani
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation and Functional Performance, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900 Monte Alegre, 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roberta Leopoldino de Andrade
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Batista
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011085:Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Muscle activity; Muscle thickness; Pelvic floor muscles; Polycystic ovary syndrome