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Breathing with the pelvic floor? Correlation of pelvic floor muscle function and expiratory flows in healthy young nulliparous women

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to determine correlations between pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function and expiratory function in healthy young nulliparous women.

Methods

In 40 volunteers, PFM function was assessed by vaginal palpation. Forced expiration patterns were evaluated visually and by palpation of the suprapubic insertion region of the anterolateral abdominal muscles. Forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory flows (FEF) were determined by spirometry.

Results

Incremental positive correlation was found between voluntary PFM contraction strength and forced expiratory flow at 25%, 50% and 75% (FEF25%, FEF50%, FEF75%) of the FVC, respectively. Positive correlation was also found between PFM contraction strength and forced expired volume in 1 s (FEV1). No correlation was found between PFM contraction strength and FVC or peak expiratory flow (PEF).

Conclusions

Despite some limitations of this study, the observed correlation between PFM contraction strength and forced expiratory flows may serve as theoretical background for a potential role of coordinated abdominal and PFM training in diseases with expiratory flow limitations.

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Abbreviations

FEF:

Forced expiratory flows

FEF25%, FEF50%, FEF75% :

Forced expiratory flow at 25%, 50% and 75% of the forced vital capacity

FEV1 :

Forced expired volume in one second

FVC:

Forced vital capacity

IAP:

Intra-abdominal pressure

PEF:

Peak expiratory flow

PFM:

Pelvic floor muscles

%RV:

Percent of the reference value

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Hochzirl Hospital, Hochzirl 1, 6170, Zirl, Austria

    Helena Talasz & Monika Lechleitner

  2. Department of Neurology, Hochzirl Hospital, Hochzirl 1, 6170, Zirl, Austria

    Markus Kofler

  3. Training Centre West of Health Care Professionals, Innrain 98, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    Elisabeth Kalchschmid

  4. Center of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Applied Anatomy, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringerstrasse 13, 1090, Vienna, Austria

    Michael Pretterklieber

Authors
  1. Helena Talasz
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  2. Markus Kofler
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  3. Elisabeth Kalchschmid
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  4. Michael Pretterklieber
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  5. Monika Lechleitner
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Correspondence to Helena Talasz.

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Talasz, H., Kofler, M., Kalchschmid, E. et al. Breathing with the pelvic floor? Correlation of pelvic floor muscle function and expiratory flows in healthy young nulliparous women. Int Urogynecol J 21, 475–481 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-009-1060-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-009-1060-1

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