Training-Related Changes of EMG Activity of the Pelvic Floor Muscles in Women with Urinary Incontinence Problems

Abstract

The effects of a six-week training of the pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) on EMG activity of this muscle group were examined in three groups of young women under conditions of three protocol tasks. Sixtyfour women (mean age 23 ± 3 years) were divided into groups: (i) with urinary incontinence (UI) problems, (ii) without such problems, and (iii) controls. Participants of the former two groups performed the above-mentioned training session, while the control group did not undergo training. Surface EMGs (sEMGs) were recorded from all participants using the Noraxon EMG system and TeleMyo DTS system (USA); recording electrodes were fixed on vaginal probes (Lifecare PR-02, Taiwan). In the group with UI symptoms, the EMG amplitude demonstrated noticeably higher values under conditions of quick PFM flicks (Q test) after the six-weeks-long training session, while electrical activity values remained practically unchanged in the asymptomatic group. The symptomatic and asymptomatic groups also showed higher results in the posttraining measurement under conditions of static hold (STA test). These differences, however, did not reach the significance level (mostly due to high variability of individual measured values). In the symptomatic group, the baseline and relaxation values of the PFM EMG amplitude increased, while the respective values in the asymptomatic and control groups decreased (except for the parameter in relaxation in the control) in the second (posttraining) measurement. The expedience of application of the sEMG technique in the control of the state of the PFM group, the efficiency of the respective PFM training in populations with UI problems, and difficulties met in the respective studies are discussed.