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Surface electromyography and ultrasound evaluation of pelvic floor muscles in hyperandrogenic women

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Abstract

Introduction

High levels of androgens increase muscle mass. Due to the characteristics of hyperandrogenism in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), it is plausible that women with PCOS may have increased pelvic floor muscle (PFM) thickness and neuromuscular activity levels compared with controls. The aim of this study was to assess PFM thickness and neuromuscular activity among hyperandrogenic women with PCOS and controls.

Methods

This was an observational, cross-sectional, case–control study evaluating PFM by ultrasound (US) and surface electromyography (sEMG) in nonobese women with and without PCOS. Seventy-two women were divided into two groups: PCOS (n = 33) and controls (n = 39). PFM thickness during contraction was assessed by US (Vingmed CFM 800). Pelvic floor muscle activity was assessed by sEMG (MyoTrac Infinit) during contractions at different time lengths: quick, and 8 and 60 s. Descriptive analysis, analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Student’s t test were used for statistical analyses.

Results

There were no significant differences in PFM sEMG activity between PCOS and controls in any of the contractions: quick contraction (73.23 mV/ 71.56 mV; p = 0.62), 8 s (55.77 mV/ 54.17 mV; p = 0.74), and 60 s (49.26 mV/ 47.32 mV; p = 0.68), respectively. There was no difference in PFM thickness during contractions evaluated by US between PCOS and controls (12.78 mm/ 13.43 mm; p = 0.48).

Conclusions

This study did not find statistically significant differences in pelvic floor muscle thickness or in muscle activity between PCOS women and controls.

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Acknowledgments

To São Paulo Research Foundation for the Scholarship (08/52614-4).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rehabilitation and Functional Performance, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900 Monte Alegre, 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

    Flávia Ignácio Antonio Vassimon, Cristine Homsi Jorge Ferreira & Roberta Leopoldino de Andrade Batista

  2. Department of Sports Medicine, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Oslo, Norway

    Kari Bo

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes, 3900 Monte Alegre, 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

    Wellington Paula Martins & Rui Alberto Ferriani

Authors
  1. Flávia Ignácio Antonio Vassimon
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  2. Cristine Homsi Jorge Ferreira
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  3. Wellington Paula Martins
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  4. Rui Alberto Ferriani
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  5. Roberta Leopoldino de Andrade Batista
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  6. Kari Bo
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Correspondence to Cristine Homsi Jorge Ferreira.

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The first author received a scholarship (master’s degree) from São Paulo Research Foundation.

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Vassimon, F.I.A., Ferreira, C.H.J., Martins, W.P. et al. Surface electromyography and ultrasound evaluation of pelvic floor muscles in hyperandrogenic women. Int Urogynecol J 27, 587–591 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-015-2865-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-015-2865-8

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