scholarly journals Functional Interaction of Pelvic Floor, Diaphragm and Trunk Muscles among Men with Prostate Cancer

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (86) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brigita Zachovajevienė ◽  
Laimonas Šiupšinskas ◽  
Pavelas Zachovajevas ◽  
Daimantas Milonas ◽  
Loreta Lapinskaitė

Research background and hypothesis. The absolute dominance of the isolated muscle presentation as the first and  last  word  in  muscular  anatomy  leaves  the  current  generation  of  therapists  unlikely  to  think  any  other  way (Myers,  2009).  Hypothesis:  functional  relationships  could  be  found  between  pelvic  floor,  diaphragm,  and  trunk muscles in men with prostate cancer.Research aim. The aim of the study was to evaluate functional associations between pelvic floor, diaphragm, and trunk muscles among men with prostate cancer. Research methods. The study included 81 male volunteers diagnosed with prostate cancer with measurements conducted one day before radical prostatectomy. Pelvic floor muscle strength and endurance were measured using “Peritron  9300”  device,  the  strength  of  diaphragm  –  with  “MicroRPM”,  the  strength  of  transversus  abdominis muscle – with “Stabilizer”. Trunk muscles were tested using tests for static postural endurance of abdominal and back muscles. Associations were estimated using Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r). Research results. Analysis of functional indicators of muscles demonstrated high linear associations between strength of pelvic floor and diaphragm (r = 0.79), between strength of diaphragm and exhalation muscles (r = 0.78), and between static endurance of abdominal and back muscles (r = 0.72). We determined moderate correlations between endurance of pelvic floor and strength of transversus abdominis muscle (r = 0.59), between strength of transversus abdominis and static endurance of abdominal muscles (r = 0.69), between strength of diaphragm and static endurance of abdominal (r = 0.56) and back muscles (r = 0.51), between the strength of exhalation muscles and static endurance of abdominal muscles (r = 0.57) and strength of pelvic floor (r = 0.65), between strength of pelvic floor and static endurance of back muscles (r = 0.50). Low correlations were found between strength of pelvic floor and transversus abdominis (r = 0.31) and static endurance of abdominal muscles (r = 0.44), between endurance of pelvic floor and exhalation muscles (r = 0.37), and finally between transversus abdominis and static strength of back muscles (r = 0.39). All correlations were statistically significant (p  < 0.01). Discussion and conclusions. The findings showed positive associations among different functional indicators of muscles: strength of pelvic floor correlates with endurance of pelvic floor muscles, static abdominal and back muscles, strength of diaphragm, and transversus abdominis muscles. The results of this study confirm that functional associations between pelvic floor, diaphragm, and trunk muscles exist.Keywords: abdominal muscles, static postural endurance, respiration, core stability.

Sexual Health ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 285
Author(s):  
R. Sapsford

The pelvic floor muscles form the base of the abdominal cylinder and work in synergy with other muscles around the cylinder - the abdominal muscles and the diaphragm. Activity in each muscle group affects the others. Coordinated recruitment of these muscle groups is necessary for generation and maintenance of intra-abdominal pressure, postural support of the trunk, and during functional tasks such as lifting, coughing and nose blowing. Coordinated release of these groups is required for micturition, while defaecation may need activity in some muscles and release in others. Vaginismus and vulvodynia both have a component of over activity of the pelvic floor muscles which impairs normal function, though this over activity may only occur at the time of attempted penetration. Some of the physiological factors that contribute to this overactivity come from outside the pelvic floor muscle complex itself and can be ameliorated by understanding and management of these muscle synergies. An EMG study of muscle activity of the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles during a simulated body posturing for female sexual arousal will help to explain how the pelvic floor muscle over activity in vaginismus arises. Treatment programmes that have been used to successfully address these problems will be explained.


Author(s):  
Marklana Da Frota Diniz ◽  
Thiago Brasileiro De Vasconcelos ◽  
Juliana Lerche Vieira Rocha Pires ◽  
Marineide Meireles Nogueira ◽  
Giselle Notini Arcanjo

Introduction: The Pilates Method is a program of physical and mental training that works the body as a whole, aiming to gain muscle strength, mainly at the central region formed by the abdominal muscles, spine and pelvic floor, and to promote stretching and flexibility. Objective: To investigate the effects of this technique in the pelvic floor muscle activity, noting the type of fiber was more work during the practice of this activities in soil (Mat Pilates). Method: It was a character study of interventional, observational, descriptive, conducted during the months from March to May 2011, in which six women aged between 35 and 65 years, who underwent Mat Pilates classes twice a week, was rated the strength of pelvic floor, by Perina®perineometer pressure before and after the eight classes. Results: It was observed that all the volunteers had gained in strength in both types of muscle fibers, and 84% (p < 0.05) had greater gain in type 2 fibers. Conclusion: The Mat Pilates to increase the influence of the pelvic floor muscle strength it and can be used to prevent dysfunctions dysfunction of these muscles.


2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 108-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nahid Tahan ◽  
Amir Massoud Arab ◽  
Bita Vaseghi ◽  
Khosro Khademi

Context:Coactivation of abdominal and pelvic-floor muscles (PFM) is an issue considered by researchers recently. Electromyography (EMG) studies have shown that the abdominal-muscle activity is a normal response to PFM activity, and increase in EMG activity of the PFM concomitant with abdominal-muscle contraction was also reported.Objective:The purpose of this study was to compare the changes in EMG activity of the deep abdominal muscles during abdominal-muscle contraction (abdominal hollowing and bracing) with and without concomitant PFM contraction in healthy and low-back-pain (LBP) subjects.Design:A 2 × 2 repeated-measures design.Setting:Laboratory.Participants:30 subjects (15 with LBP, 15 without LBP).Main Outcome Measures:Peak rectified EMG of abdominal muscles.Results:No difference in EMG of abdominal muscles with and without concomitant PFM contraction in abdominal hollowing (P = .84) and abdominal bracing (P = .53). No difference in EMG signal of abdominal muscles with and without PFM contraction between LBP and healthy subjects in both abdominal hollowing (P = .88) and abdominal bracing (P = .98) maneuvers.Conclusion:Adding PFM contraction had no significant effect on abdominal-muscle contraction in subjects with and without LBP.


2000 ◽  
Vol 89 (3) ◽  
pp. 967-976 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul W. Hodges ◽  
Simon C. Gandevia

In humans, when the stability of the trunk is challenged in a controlled manner by repetitive movement of a limb, activity of the diaphragm becomes tonic but is also modulated at the frequency of limb movement. In addition, the tonic activity is modulated by respiration. This study investigated the mechanical output of these components of diaphragm activity. Recordings were made of costal diaphragm, abdominal, and erector spinae muscle electromyographic activity; intra-abdominal, intrathoracic, and transdiaphragmatic pressures; and motion of the rib cage, abdomen, and arm. During limb movement the diaphragm and transversus abdominis were tonically active with added phasic modulation at the frequencies of both respiration and limb movement. Activity of the other trunk muscles was not modulated by respiration. Intra-abdominal pressure was increased during the period of limb movement in proportion to the reactive forces from the movement. These results show that coactivation of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles causes a sustained increase in intra-abdominal pressure, whereas inspiration and expiration are controlled by opposing activity of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles to vary the shape of the pressurized abdominal cavity.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (86) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pavelas Zachovajevas ◽  
Brigita Zachovajevienė ◽  
Jūratė Banionytė ◽  
Arvydas Siaurodinas

Research background and hypothesis. Transversus abdominis muscle experiences extraordinary overstretching during gestation period and thus the ability of this muscle to stabilize spine decreases. These changes can cause chronic low back pain during pregnancy and after delivery. In order to solve this problem it is essential to apply proper and effective treatment methods. Hypothesis: physical therapy exercises are more effective than maternity support garment in low back pain treatment and core stability during pregnancy and after delivery.Research aim was to evaluate the influence of physical therapy and maternity support garment on spinal stability and low back pain during pregnancy and after delivery.Research methods. Study sample comprised 40 pregnant women. The assessments were made twice: at 28–35 weeks of gestation and 8–9 weeks after delivery. The low back pain was evaluated using SAS, core stability and transversus abdominis muscle activation were objectively tested using special device stabilizer and the presence of diastasis recti was tested as well. Research results. Physiotherapy is 42.4% more effective than maternity support garment in low back pain control during pregnancy and after delivery (p < 0.05). The best results of transversus abdominis muscle activation were observed in physiotherapy group with maternity support garment whereas participants without physiotherapy could not properly activate this muscle. The diastasis recti after delivery occurred only in control group, and in the group with maternity support garment it occurred 36.7% less frequently than in the group where women did not use this garment.Discussion and conclusions. 1. Perceived low back pain after delivery was less expressed in women wearing maternity support garment both among women attending and not attending physiotherapy exercises. Nevertheless, physical therapy was more effective in reducing low back pain than maternity support garment during pregnancy and after delivery. 2. Core stability after delivery improved among women attending physical therapy exercises, but in case of maternity support garment it improved better. In contrast, in case of not attending physiotherapy the spinal stability after delivery improved only for women wearing maternity support garment. 3. Core stability during pregnancy and after delivery was better among women attending physical therapy but not wearing maternity support garment compared to women not attending physical therapy but wearing maternity support garment. 4. Physical therapy and maternity support garment improves core stability during pregnancy and has a positive effect on activity of rectus abdominis muscles following delivery.Keywords: obstetrics, transversus abdominis muscle, exercises.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine Vesting ◽  
Monika Fagevik Olsén ◽  
Annelie Gutke ◽  
Gun Rembeck ◽  
Maria EH Larsson

Abstract Background Pregnancy and childbirth often result in alterations of core muscles, and women may require postpartum assessment of pelvic floor muscle function and abdominal wall changes, e.g. diastasis recti abdominis (DRA). However, there is currently no gold standard for postpartum assessment of these muscles´ function. Here we aimed to evaluate the reliability of clinically applicable methods for assessing pelvic floor muscles and DRA after pregnancy. Methods We recruited 222 postpartum women from Swedish antenatal and childbirth centers, and via social media. Pelvic floor and DRA assessment were performed via observation and palpation at three rehabilitation centers in Sweden. At each center, two independent physiotherapists performed the assessments in random order. Results Assessment of the maximal voluntary contraction and pelvic floor muscle endurance revealed kappa values ranging from 0.49–0.69. Assessments of voluntary contraction by observation, involuntary contraction, and voluntary relaxation yielded inconsistent results, with slight-to-moderate weighted kappa values ranging from 0.10–0.51. DRA assessment by caliper yielded ICC values of 0.73–0.83 after physiotherapists underwent 2 months of training in applying this assessment method. The standard error of measurements for this method was about 4 mm, and the minimal detectable change was 12 mm. Assessments of DRA depth and bulging showed moderate kappa values of 0.43–0.51, with reservation for some inconsistency between the centers. Conclusions Palpation of maximal voluntary contraction and pelvic floor muscle endurance are reliable postpartum assessment methods. With some experience and training, a caliper is a reliable instrument for assessing the postpartum DRA width. Additional research is needed to identify a reliable assessment method for pelvic floor muscle functions other than voluntary contraction, and for DRA depth and bulging.


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