Electrophysiological Activity and Functional Correlates in Female Pelvic Floor Muscles

Female pelvic floor disorders including pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence are associated with pelvic floor support defect. Main components accounting for pelvic floor support include pelvic bony, muscular, and fascial structures. Among the above components, pelvic floor muscles, either superficial or deep groups, are considered playing an essential role in maintaining the morphology and function of the pelvic floor. Intensive pelvic floor muscle training is the first choice of treatment for urinary incontinence, either stress or urgency. During pelvic examination, inspection and digital examination incorporating Oxford grading during system are two common and convenient methods to evaluate the function of pelvic floor muscles. However, inspection and digital examination can hardly provide quantitative information of pelvic floor muscle contraction. With the advantages of manometry (or perineometry) and electromyography testing tools, directly quantify pelvic floor muscle contractions and activities become possible. In addition, timing contraction of pelvic floor muscles such as the Knack maneuver can reduce incontinence severity. This well explains specific roles of different pelvic floor muscles for pelvic floor function: deep group is responsible for pelvic floor support, nevertheless, superficial group is relating to pelvic floor function. Currently, biofeedback machines provide visual and audit inputs for correct pelvic floor muscle training. Of biofeedback machines, the housed functions, perineometry and electromyography, can analyze and quantify pelvic muscle power and activities. This study project is aimed to analyze and quantify the activities of different pelvic floor muscle groups and to investigate their functional roles and correlates in female pelvic disorders. In addition, the study is tried to explore the treatment outcomes of female pelvic floor disorders by applying different strategies of pelvic muscle training and functional electrical stimulation.