Comparison of abdominal muscle activities with vaginal pressure changes in healthy women

Abstract

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of a Pelvic Floor Muscle exercise program by comparing muscle activities at different ages, using biofeedback to regulate vaginal pressure. [Subjects] Two groups of female participants without medical history of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction were evaluated. The mean age of Group I was 33.5 years and that of Group II 49.69 years. [Methods] Participants were instructed to perform the pelvic floor muscle exercise. Biofeedback was given for vaginal pressure of the pelvic floor muscles, and we measured the activities of the rectus abdominis, external oblique, and internal oblique muscles by electromyogram at 5 different levels of vaginal pressure. [Results] In Group II, as the vaginal pressure increased, the internal oblique values showed significant differences. When the vaginal pressure was 20 cmH2O, 30 cmH2O, and Maximum, the muscle activities of Group II increased significantly more than in Group I. [Conclusion] When the pelvic floor muscles were contracted, Group I showed greater differences in the internal oblique muscle activity than Group II.