title: Training through gametherapy promotes coactivation of the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles in young women, nulliparous and continents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  several studies have been investigated co-activation can enhance the effectveness of PFM training protocols allowing preventive and therapeutic goals in pelvic floor dysfunctions. The objective of the present study was to investigate if an abdominal-pelvic protocol of training (APT) using gametherapy would allow co-activation of PFM and transversus abdominis/oblique internal (TrA/OI) muscles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-five nulliparous, continent, young females, with median age 24.76 (±3.76) years were evaluated using digital palpation (DP) of PFM and surfasse electromyography of PFM and TrA/OI simultaneously, during maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), alternating PFM and TrA/OI contraction requests. All women participated on a supervised program of APT using gametherapy, that included exercises of pelvic mobilization associated to contraction of TrA/OI muscles oriented by virtual games, for 30 minutes, three times a week, in a total of 10 sessions. Electromyographic data were processed and analyzed by ANOVA - analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When MVC of TrA/OI was solicited, it was observed simultaneous increase of electromyographic activity of PFM (p=0.001) following ATP. However, EMG activity did not change significantly during MVC of PFM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Training using gametherapy allowed better co-activation of pelvic floor muscles in response to contraction of TrA, in young nulliparous and continent women.
authors: Departamento de Cirurgia da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), SP, Brasil.
authors: Valeria Regina
authors: VR
authors: Silva
authors: Departamento de Cirurgia da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), SP, Brasil.
authors: Cássio Luis Zanettini
authors: CL
authors: Riccetto
authors: Departamento de Cirurgia da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), SP, Brasil.|Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), MG, Brasil.
authors: Natalia Miguel
authors: NM
authors: Martinho
authors: Departamento de Cirurgia da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), SP, Brasil.
authors: Joseane
authors: J
authors: Marques
authors: Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), MG, Brasil.
authors: Leonardo Cesar
authors: LC
authors: Carvalho
authors: Departamento de Cirurgia da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas - Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), SP, Brasil.|Escola de Enfermagem, Universidade Federal de Alfenas (UNIFAL-MG), MG, Brasil.
authors: Simone
authors: S
authors: Botelho
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004576:Electromyography / Q000379:methods*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D010298:Parity; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Abdominal Muscles; Electromyography; Pelvic Floor