The effects of one‐time soft tissue therapy on pelvic floor muscle electromyographic signals in women with urinary incontinence: A randomized intervention trial

• Published in: Neurourology and urodynamics Vol. 43; no. 2; pp. 320 - 328
• Main Authors: Kasper‐Jędrzejewska, Martyna, Starzec‐Proserpio, Małgorzata, Paprocka‐Borowicz, Małgorzata, Kawka, Szymon, Halski, Tomasz, Ptaszkowski, Kuba
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.02.2024
• Subjects: electromyographic signals; Electromyography; Exercise Therapy; Female; Humans; Muscle Contraction - physiology; Pelvic Floor; pelvic floor muscles; Pelvis; Research Design; soft tissue therapy; stress urinary incontinence; Urinary incontinence; Urinary Incontinence - therapy; Urinary Incontinence, Stress - therapy; electromyographic signals; pelvic floor muscles; stress urinary incontinence; soft tissue therapy
• ISSN: 0733-2467; 1520-6777
• DOI: 10.1002/nau.25354

Aims To investigate the effects of one‐time soft tissue therapy (STT) on pelvic floor muscle (PFM) electromyographic signals in women with stress and/or mixed urinary incontinence. Methods An intervention study conducted with 63 women with stress and/or mixed urinary incontinence. Participants were randomly assigned to either the one‐time STT group (experimental group) or the control group. The same teaching model for voluntary contraction and relaxation of the PFM was used for all participants. Electromyographic signals from the PFM during functional tasks were the primary clinical outcome measures at baseline and immediately after the intervention. Electromyographic signals were analyzed using root mean square amplitude. Results There was no significant difference between groups in electromyographic PFM signals in prebaseline rest (mean difference: −0.146 [95% confidence interval (CI): −0.44 to 0.148; p = 0.470]), phasic contractions (mean difference: 0.807 [95% CI: 0.123–1.491; p = 0.459]), tonic contractions (mean difference: 1.06 [95% CI: 0.255–1.865; p = 0.302]), endurance contractions (mean difference: 0.896 [95% CI: 0.057–1.735; p = 0.352]) and postbaseline rest (mean difference: −0.123 [95% CI: −0.406 to 0.16; p = 0.591]) immediately after the one‐time STT intervention. Conclusion A one‐time STT intervention does not appear to effectively alter electromyographic signal of the PFM in women with urinary incontinence. Due to the limitations of the study, further research is needed to confirm these results.