Multivetorial load of the pelvic floor of different women populations

Abstract

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, joints and fascia, forming the base of the abdomino-pelvic cavity, considered an understudied region of the body from a biomechanical perspective. Together these structures contribute to support the pelvic organs and to maintain urinary and faecal continence. Although 45% of the women are not capable to contract the pelvic floor voluntarily, the strength and the capacity to maintain the pelvic floor muscle contraction are related to the severity of incontinence and sexual satisfaction. The most established risk factor for pelvic floor dysfunction and weakening of the pelvic floor musculature is vaginal delivery, and the first-line conservative management of these dysfunctions is the pelvic floor muscle training. The aims of the present study are to study the strength, resistance and coordination of these muscles on different groups of women, considering the continence condition (1), the pompoir training practice (2), the antepartum use of birth training (3), and the sexual function (4). A multidirectional spatiotemporal load distribution of the pelvic floor will be assessed by a probe fully instrumented with capacitive sensors (Pliance System- Novel, Munich, Germany). A unique protocol will be applied to attend all our goals, and will include application of specific questionnaires, vaginal palpation and pelvic floor muscle strength assessment during three consecutive maximal voluntary contractions and one sustained contraction. The variables will be compared between groups by analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Newman-Keuls post-hoc test. Alpha will be set at 0.05 for all analysis. (AU)