Evaluation of abdomino-pelvic synergy during functional activities in nulphary women: case series

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: It is relevant to understand that female pelvic floor dysfunctions (PFD) are clinical conditions that affect an increasing number of women each year, constituting a public health problem. PFD may be related to the imbalance between the tensional overload of this musculature and the decreased ability of these muscles to withstand increased pressure in this region, since this musculature must contract during any activity that promotes an increase in intra-abdominal pressure favoring the maintenance of continence. OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to analyze the presence of this synergy in three volunteers describing the behavior of electromyographic activity of muscles located in the pelvic floor and abdomen during functional activities: walking, sitting rising, holding weight, crouching, jumping and coughing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of three cases, involving volunteer nulliparous university students, with no voiding complaints. The recording of electromyographic activity of pelvic floor muscles and muscular group formed by the transverse abdominal and oblique internal muscles during functional activities was measured using surface electromyography. RESULTS: The electromyographic signal increased in relation to rest during functional activities of coughing, jumping, squatting, sitting rising, holding weight and walking in both musculature analyzed. The largest electromyographic activities were observed during jumping and crouching activities, and the lowest ones when holding weight, walking and sitting rising. CONCLUSION: From the electromyographic data collection of the transverse abdominal/internal oblique muscles and external anal sphincter in three nulliparous volunteers, it was possible to observe synergy of these muscles during the proposed functional activities. Studies involving larger groups of volunteers are needed to be able to state important details about the synergy between these muscle groups.