The objective of this study was to compare the role of the pelvic floor muscles between nulliparous and multiparous women in the third trimester of pregnancy, by analyzing the relationship between electrical activity (surface electromyography—EMG), vaginal palpation (modified Oxford scale), and perineal distensibility (Epi-no). This was an observational cross-sectional study on a sample of 60 healthy pregnant women with no cervical dilation, single fetus, gestational age between 35 and 40 weeks, and maternal age ranging from 15 to 40 years. The methods used were bidigital palpation (modified Oxford scale, graded 0–5), surface EMG (electrical activity during maximal voluntary contraction), and perineal distensibility (Epi-no device).

The Pearson correlation coefficient ( r) was used to analyze the Epi-no values and the surface EMG findings. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the median values from surface EMG and Epi-no, using the modified Oxford scale scores. Among the 60 patients included in this study, 30 were nulliparous and 30 multiparous. The average maternal age and gestational age were 26.06 (±5.58) and 36.56 (±1.23), respectively. It was observed that nulliparous women had both higher perineal muscle strength (2.53 ± 0.57 versus 2.06 ± 0.64; P = 0.005) and higher electrical activity (45.35 ± 12.24 μV versus 35.79 ± 11.66 μV; P = 0.003), while among the multiparous women, distensibility was higher (19.39 ± 1.92 versus 18.05 ± 2.14; P = 0.013). We observed that there was no correlation between perineal distensibility and electrical activity during maximal voluntary contraction ( r = − 0.193; P = 0.140).

However, we found a positive relationship between vaginal palpation and surface electromyography ( P = 0.008), but none between Epi-no values ( P = 0. Bouken Jidai Katsugeki Goemon Ps2 Iso Game more. 785). The electrical activity and muscle strength of the pelvic floor muscles of the multiparous women were damaged, in relation to the nulliparous women, while the perineal distensibility was lower in the latter group.

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There was a positive relationship between surface EMG and the modified Oxford scale. Introduction In physiotherapeutic practice, the function of the pelvic floor muscles is evaluated in pregnant women in order to ascertain the ability of the muscles to perform muscle contraction and to identify possible dysfunctions []. With uterine growth, this region becomes overloaded and, through hormonal influence and biomechanical alterations of the pelvis, both muscle tone and muscle strength may decrease. This may result in urinary incontinence. The main methods that have been described for evaluating the pelvic muscles are surface electromyography (EMG), which is the gold standard for studying electrical activity and has been validated in pregnant woman [], and the bidigital palpation method (modified Oxford scale), which is simple, well-tolerated, minimally invasive, and widely used by physiotherapists. During pregnancy, however, considering that there is a need for greater distensibility of the pelvic floor muscles during delivery, this question has been assessed using the Epi-no device. This device was developed by the company TECSANA in 1999 with the intention of being a vaginal dilator.

Some authors have reported that daily use of Epi-no from the 34th week of gestation to term reduces the incidence of episiotomy in primiparous women [, ], increases the incidence of an intact perineum [], reduces the incidence of avulsion of the levator ani muscle, and reduces the incidence of microtrauma []. Zanetti [] used this device to measure perineal distensibility during the first stage of delivery labor. After removing the inflated Epi-no from the vaginal canal, a measuring tape was positioned around the part with the largest diameter and the maximum circumference in centimeters was measured to ascertain how much stretching the muscle had acquired. In her study, there was a positive correlation with perineal integrity at the expulsive stage of delivery when the circumference was greater than 21 cm; that is, there would be no need for episiotomy because of the reduced risk of perineal laceration. At the end of the pregnancy, it is expected that the pregnant woman will have pelvic floor muscles distensible enough for the passage of the fetus without the need for dilating surgery (episiotomy or perineotomy) and also that these muscles will not lose tone and strength, so that their function can be completely restored in the postpartum period. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the role of the pelvic floor muscles between nulliparous and multiparous women in the third trimester of pregnancy by analyzing the relationship between electrical activity (surface EMG), vaginal palpation (modified Oxford scale), and perineal distensibility (Epi-no). EMGLab1 software: exemplifying the selection of the best of three maximum voluntary contractions during the electromyography evaluation.

Next, a clinical examination of muscle contractility was performed by means of bidigital vaginal palpation to a maximum depth of three inches. The muscle contractions were graded from 0 to 5 using the modified Oxford scale []. The perineal distensibility was then evaluated using the Epi-no device. After the deflated balloon had been inserted into a Microtex condom, lubricant gel was applied and it was introduced into the vagina such that only two centimeters of the distal portion of the device was outside of the introitus.

The balloon was then gradually inflated until the limit tolerated by the patient was reached. The device was then slowly withdrawn, the condom was discarded, and the greatest circumference of the balloon was measured while it was still inflated. For statistical analysis, the Minitab 16.1 software (State College, PA, USA) was used.

Student's t-test was applied in relation to the variables of maternal age, gestational age, body mass index (BMI), surface EMG, and Epi-no; and the Mann-Whitney test was used for the number of pregnancies, the number of abortions, and the modified Oxford scale. The Pearson correlation coefficient ( r) was used to analyze the Epi-no values and the surface EMG findings. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare the median values from surface EMG and Epi-no using the modified Oxford scale scores. The significance level was set at P. Patient distribution according to demographic characteristics. In the multiparous group, 21 were primiparous (10 gave birth vaginally and 11 by cesarean section).

The rest were secundiparous, of whom seven gave birth vaginally and two had both delivery methods. We found that the two groups were similar regarding pelvic floor dysfunction, which was analyzed in this study as urinary incontinence complaints (63.33 versus 50.0%; P = 0.297). Regarding the modified Oxford scale, surface EMG, and Epi-no evaluation methods, it was observed that, among the nulliparous women, both muscle strength and electrical activity were greater, while perineal distensibility was greater among the multiparous women (). Comparison of the values found using the modified Oxford scale, surface EMG during maximum voluntary contraction, and Epi-no.

The Pearson correlation coefficient ( r) showed that there was no relationship between the surface EMG findings and the Epi-no values ( r = −0.193; P = 0.140). Using the Kruskal-Wallis test, we found a positive relationship between the surface EMG findings and the modified Oxford scale scores.

On the other hand, there was no correlation between the modified Oxford scale and perineal distensibility ( and ). Discussion Studying the pelvic floor during pregnancy allows for a greater understanding of this structure, so that it can be preserved during delivery, even if during pregnancy it undergoes alterations that result in urinary and fecal incontinence, along with sexual dysfunction. It is important to emphasize that our patients were examined before undergoing any perineal distensibility test. If the electrical activity or muscle contractility was found to be lower during the study, it would show that the pregnancy itself was responsible for modifying muscle strength. Based on recent published papers, we evaluated the role of the pelvic floor muscles in 60 pregnant women (30 nulliparous and 30 multiparous) by means of surface EMG [, ], bidigital palpation (modified Oxford scale) [], and perineal distensibility (Epi-no) []. These methods are considered minimally invasive and can be safely used during pregnancy. Because of the specific features of the equipment, surface EMG was the first method used in the evaluation in this study.

In the maximum voluntary contraction evaluation, the nulliparous women presented higher scores for the electrical activity of the pelvic floor muscles than the multiparous women (45.35 ± 12.24 μV versus 35.79 ± 11.66 μV; P = 0.003). Our findings were similar to the findings from the study by Resende et al. [], whose group of pregnant woman presented a result similar to that of our multiparous group (30.0 ± 19.4 μV), and also to the findings of Botelho et al. [], who analyzed 79 primiparous women in their third trimester of pregnancy and found an average of 35.4 μV.

The difference between the groups may have been influenced by other factors that are considered to lead to a risk of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, such as old age, number of pregnancies, parity, high body mass index (BMI), and presence of urinary incontinence in the third trimester of pregnancy. However, it is important to consider that pregnancy itself, excluding delivery labor, can reduce electrical activity, which modifies the function of the pelvic muscles, as was shown by Resende et al.

[], whose electromyographic recordings of maximum voluntary contractions from nulliparous women were much higher than those of the group of nulliparous women in the present study. Bidigital palpation, graded using the modified Oxford scale, was the second evaluation method. Crack Serial Cracks Hk Weather. This made it possible to observe the vaginal occlusion and pelvic floor muscle elevation and the patient's ability to perform correct contraction and muscle relaxation. Similar to the findings of surface EMG, we found that the nulliparous women also had greater muscle contractility than the multiparous women.

In relation to the scale, scores of 2.0 refer to low-intensity contraction with little sustainment. According to the literature, patients who reach values of 3.0 onwards, without recruitment of other muscle groups, present proper muscle contraction []. Reduced muscle contractility may be associated with dysfunction of the pelvic floor muscles. [] found that women with advanced age and high parity had lower scores during the evaluation, which agrees with our study.

To evaluate perineal distensibility, we used the Epi-no device, as shown in previous studies [, ]. At this stage, the multiparous women presented greater perineal distensibility than the nulliparous women (19.39 ± 1.92 versus 18.0 ± 2.14; P = 0.013). This procedure was performed around the 36th week of pregnancy, at which time the vaginal tissues and support tissues are mediated by hormones and, therefore, are more distended [].

Other studies have shown that prolonged and difficult previous deliveries may result in increased degradation of the vaginal wall collagen, which leads to relaxation of this region [, ]. [] reported the possibility that modifications that occurred in previous pregnancies would be permanent, especially regarding the hiatal dimension. Similar to our study, Zanetti [] found greater distensibility in the multiparous women than in the nulliparous women (20.7 ± 0.46 versus 19.3 ± 2.8 cm; P.