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The effect of abdominal and pelvic floor muscle activation on urine flow in women

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

Interruption of urine flow during micturition has been used as an assessment of ability to voluntarily contract the pelvic floor muscles (PFM). However, the PFM are also activated during specific abdominal manoeuvres. This study aimed to assess the effect of similar abdominal manoeuvres on urine flow and compare this with the effect of PFM contraction.

Methods

Eight healthy women, of mixed parity, contracted the abdominal muscles and the PFM during urine flow on separate occasions. Differences in urine flow were compared using paired t tests.

Results

All participants were able to interrupt the urine stream using both muscle activation patterns. There was no difference in the time taken to interrupt urine flow (p = 0.78) between the two patterns.

Conclusions

These data provide evidence that specific abdominal muscle manoeuvres influence urethral closure in continent women, and this is probably mediated by concurrent activation of PFM during the abdominal task.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Susannah Kelley for the ultrasound monitoring of the abdominal muscles and Sue Markwell for assistance with data collection. R Sapsford received funding from the Dorothy Hopkins Award for Clinical Study from the Queensland Branch of the Australian Physiotherapy Association. P Hodges is supported by a Senior Principal Research Fellowship from the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.

Conflicts of interest

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. NHMRC Centre of Clinical Research Excellence in Spinal Pain, Injury and Health, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, 4072

    Ruth R. Sapsford & Paul W. Hodges

  2. 44 Glen Road, Toowong, Queensland, Australia, 4066

    Ruth R. Sapsford

Authors
  1. Ruth R. Sapsford
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  2. Paul W. Hodges
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Correspondence to Ruth R. Sapsford.

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Sapsford, R.R., Hodges, P.W. The effect of abdominal and pelvic floor muscle activation on urine flow in women. Int Urogynecol J 23, 1225–1230 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-011-1654-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-011-1654-2

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