title: Correlation between maximum voluntary contraction and endurance measured by digital palpation and manometry: An observational study.
abstract: Digital palpation and manometry are methods that can provide information regarding maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) and endurance of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM), and a strong correlation between these variables can be expected.
  To investigate the correlation between MVC and endurance, measured by digital palpation and manometry.
  Forty-two women, with mean age of 58.1 years (±10.2), and predominant symptoms of stress urinary incontinence (SUI), were included. Examination was firstly conducted by digital palpation and subsequently using a Peritron manometer. MVC was measured using a 0-5 score, based on the Oxford Grading Scale. Endurance was assessed based on the PERFECT scheme.
  We found a significant positive correlation between the MVC measured by digital palpation and the peak manometric pressure (r=0.579, p<0.001), and between the measurements of the endurance by Peritron manometer and the PERFECT assessment scheme (r=0.559, P<0.001).
  Our results revealed a positive and significant correlation between the capacity and maintenance of PFM contraction using digital and manometer evaluations in women with predominant symptoms of SUI.
authors.affiliation: PT, MSc, Department of Gynecology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fátima Faní
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Fitz
authors.affiliation: PT, PhD, Department of Gynecology, Unifesp, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Stüpp
authors.affiliation: PT, Department of Gynecology, Unifesp, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thaís Fonseca
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: MD, PhD, Department of Gynecology, Unifesp, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marair Gracio Ferreira
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Sartori
authors.affiliation: MD, PhD, Department of Gynecology, Unifesp, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Manoel João Batista Castello
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Girão
authors.affiliation: MD, PhD, Department of Gynecology, Unifesp, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rodrigo Aquino
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Castro
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008365:Manometry / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D010173:Palpation / Q000379:methods*; D017773:Pelvic Floor / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D011312:Pressure; D012016:Reference Values; D014550:Urinary Incontinence, Stress / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014621:Vagina / Q000502:physiology