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Are clinically recommended pelvic floor muscle relaxation positions really efficient for muscle relaxation?

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

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).

Methods

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.

Results

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).

Conclusions

Efficient PFM relaxation is maintained during positions recommended in physiotherapy clinics. The extent of PFM and abdominal muscle relaxation varies according to the positions.

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Acknowledgements

The authors have no conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey

    Özge Çeliker Tosun & Meriç Yıldırım

  2. Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Biruni University, Istanbul, Turkey

    Damla Korkmaz Dayıcan

  3. Institute of Health Sciences, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey

    İrem Keser

  4. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey

    Sefa Kurt

  5. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tepecik Education and Research Hospital, Izmir, Turkey

    Gökhan Tosun

Authors
  1. Özge Çeliker Tosun
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  2. Damla Korkmaz Dayıcan
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  3. İrem Keser
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  4. Sefa Kurt
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  5. Meriç Yıldırım
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Contributions

Çeliker Tosun Ö: Protocol/project development, Data collection and management, Data analysis, Manuscript writing/editing.

Korkmaz Dayıcan D: Protocol/project development, Data collection, Data analysis.

Keser İ: Protocol/project development, Data management.

Kurt S: Protocol/project development, Data collection.

Yıldırım M: Data analysis, Manuscript writing/editing.

Tosun G: Manuscript writing/editing.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Damla Korkmaz Dayıcan.

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Written informed consent was obtained from the patients for publication of these Images in the International Urogynecology Journal and any accompanying images. The person in the figures is one the authors of the current manuscript, D.K.D. The showing of her face in the pictures has been approved by the legal representative.

This work has not been presented at a prior conference or meeting congress.

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Tosun, Ö.Ç., Dayıcan, D.K., Keser, İ. et al. Are clinically recommended pelvic floor muscle relaxation positions really efficient for muscle relaxation?. Int Urogynecol J 33, 2391–2400 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-022-05119-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-022-05119-3

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