Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey.
Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Biruni University, Istanbul, Turkey.
Int Urogynecol J. 2022 Sep;33(9):2391-2400. doi: 10.1007/s00192-022-05119-3. Epub 2022 Feb 24.
Various positions for pelvic floor muscle (PFM) relaxation are recommended during PFM training in physiotherapy clinics. To our knowledge, there is no study addressing the most effective position for PFM and abdominal muscle relaxation. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the effect of different relaxation positions on PFM and abdominal muscle functions in women with urinary incontinence (UI).
Sixty-seven women diagnosed with UI were enrolled in the study. The type, frequency, and amount of UI were assessed with the International Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form and bladder diary. Superficial electromyography was used to assess PFM and abdominal muscle functions during three relaxation positions: modified butterfly pose (P1), modified child pose (P2), and modified deep squat with block (P3). Friedman variance analyses and Wilcoxon signed rank test with Bonferroni corrections were used to evaluate the difference between positions.
The most efficient position for PFM relaxation was P1 and followed by P3 and P2, respectively. The order was also the same for abdominal muscles (p < 0.001), P1 > P3 > P2. The rectus abdominis (RA) was the most affected muscle during PFM relaxation. The extent of relaxation of RA muscle increased as the extent of PFM relaxation increased (r = 0.298, p = 0.016). No difference was found between different types of UI during the same position in terms of PFM relaxation extents (p > 0.05).
Efficient PFM relaxation is maintained during positions recommended in physiotherapy clinics. The extent of PFM and abdominal muscle relaxation varies according to the positions.
在物理治疗诊所的 PFM 训练中，推荐了各种 PFM 放松的姿势。据我们所知，目前还没有研究涉及 PFM 和腹肌放松的最有效姿势。因此，本研究旨在探讨不同放松姿势对尿失禁（UI）女性的 PFM 和腹肌功能的影响。
本研究纳入了 67 名被诊断为 UI 的女性。采用国际尿失禁问卷-短表和膀胱日记评估尿失禁的类型、频率和程度。使用表面肌电图评估三种放松姿势下的 PFM 和腹肌功能：改良蝴蝶式（P1）、改良儿童式（P2）和改良深蹲加方块（P3）。采用 Friedman 方差分析和 Wilcoxon 符号秩检验（Bonferroni 校正）评估体位间的差异。
PFM 放松最有效的姿势是 P1，其次是 P3 和 P2。腹肌的顺序也是如此（p<0.001），P1>P3>P2。腹直肌（RA）是 PFM 放松时受影响最大的肌肉。随着 PFM 放松程度的增加，RA 肌肉的放松程度也增加（r=0.298，p=0.016）。在相同姿势下，不同类型的 UI 之间的 PFM 放松程度没有差异（p>0.05）。
在物理治疗诊所推荐的姿势下可以保持有效的 PFM 放松。PFM 和腹肌的放松程度取决于姿势。
