Biomedical subjects

Patricia Neumann

Publications and source records attributed to Patricia Neumann.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Comparison of transperineal and transabdominal ultrasound in the assessment of voluntary pelvic floor muscle contractions and functional manoeuvres in continent and incontinent women.

Transperineal (TP) and transabdominal (TA) ultrasounds were used to assess bladder neck (TP) and bladder base (TA) movement during voluntary pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction and functional tasks. A sonographer assessed 60 asymptomatic (30 nulliparous, 30 parous) and 60 incontinent (30 stress, 30 urge) women with a mean age of 43 (SD=7) years, BMI of 24 (SD=4) kg m2 and a median parity of 2 (range, 0-5), using both ultrasound methods. The mean of three measurements for bladder neck and bladder base (sagittal view) movement for each task was assessed for differences between the groups. There were no differences in bladder neck (p=0.096) or bladder base (p=0.112) movement between the four groups during voluntary PFM contraction but significant differences in bladder neck (p<0.004) and a trend towards differences in bladder base (p=0.068) movement during Valsalva and abdominal curl manoeuvre. During PFM contraction, there was a strong trend for the continent women to have greater bladder neck elevation (p=0.051), but no difference in bladder base movement (p=0.300), when compared to the incontinent women. The incontinent women demonstrated increased bladder neck descent during Valsalva and abdominal curl (p<0.001) and bladder base descent during Valsalva (p=0.021). The differences between the groups were more marked during functional activities, suggesting that comprehensive assessment of the PFM should include functional activities as well as voluntary PFM contractions. TP ultrasound was more reliable and takes measures from a bony landmark when compared to TA ultrasound, which lacks a reference point for measurements. TA ultrasound is less suitable for PFM measures during functional manoeuvres and comparisons between subjects. Few subjects were overweight so the results may not be valid in an obese population.

Abdomen↗

PubMed2006

Assessment of voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction in continent and incontinent women using transperineal ultrasound, manual muscle testing and vaginal squeeze pressure measurements.

The aims of the study were: (1) to assess women performing voluntary pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contractions, on initial instruction without biofeedback teaching, using transperineal ultrasound, manual muscle testing, and perineometry and (2) to assess for associations between the different measurements of PFM function. Sixty continent (30 nulliparous and 30 parous) and 60 incontinent (30 stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and 30 urge urinary incontinence (UUI)) women were assessed. Bladder neck depression during attempts to perform an elevating pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction occurred in 17% of continent and 30% of incontinent women. The UUI group had the highest proportion of women who depressed the bladder neck (40%), although this was not statistically significant (p=0.060). The continent women were stronger on manual muscle testing (p=0.001) and perineometry (p=0.019) and had greater PFM endurance (p<0.001) than the incontinent women. There was a strong tendency for the continent women to have a greater degree of bladder neck elevation than the incontinent women (p=0.051). There was a moderate correlation between bladder neck movement during PFM contraction measured by ultrasound and PFM strength assessed by manual muscle testing (r=0.58, p=0.01) and perineometry (r=0.43, p=0.01). The observation that many women were performing PFM exercises incorrectly reinforces the need for individual PFM assessment with a skilled practitioner. The significant correlation between the measurements of bladder neck elevation during PFM contraction and PFM strength measured using MMT and perineometry supports the use of ultrasound in the assessment of PFM function; however, the correlation was only moderate and, therefore, indicates that the different measurement tools assess different aspects of PFM function. It is recommended that physiotherapists use a combination of assessment tools to evaluate the different aspects of PFM function that are important for continence. Ultrasound is useful to determine the direction of pelvic floor movement in the clinical assessment of pelvic floor muscle function in a mixed subject population.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Altered muscle activation patterns in symptomatic women during pelvic floor muscle contraction and Valsalva manouevre.

AIMS: To investigate the muscle activation patterns of the abdomino-pelvic region used by incontinent women during a pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction and a Valsalva manouevre compared to healthy, asymptomatic subjects. METHODS: Thirteen incontinent (symptomatic) women, identified using ultrasound to be consistently depressing the bladder base during PFM contraction, and thirteen continent women (asymptomatic) able to perform an elevating PFM contraction were assessed using surface electromyography (EMG) of the PFM, abdominal and chest wall muscles and vaginal and intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) measurements during PFM contraction and Valsalva under ultrasound surveillance. RESULTS: There were no differences between groups in age, parity or BMI. There was a difference in muscle activation patterns between groups (P = 0.001). During PFM contraction the PFM were less active and the abdominal and chest wall muscles were more active in the symptomatic group. During Valsalva, the PFM and EO were more active in the symptomatic group but there was no difference in the activation of the other muscles between groups. There was a significant interaction (group x pressure) for change in IAP (P = 0.047) but no significant interaction for change in vaginal pressure (VP) (P = 0.324). CONCLUSIONS: The symptomatic women displayed altered muscle activation patterns when compared to the asymptomatic group. The symptomatic women were unable to perform a voluntary PFM contraction using a localized muscle strategy, instead activating all the muscles of the abdomino-pelvic cavity. The potential for muscle substitution strategies reinforces the need for close attention to specificity when prescribing PFM exercise programs.

Adult↗

PubMed2006

Differences in muscle activation patterns during pelvic floor muscle contraction and Valsalva maneuver.

AIMS: To investigate the different muscle activation patterns around the abdomino-pelvic cavity in continent women and their effect on pressure generation during a correct pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction and a Valsalva maneuver. METHODS: Thirteen continent women were assessed. Abdominal, chest wall, and PFM activity and vaginal and intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), were recorded during two tasks: PFM contraction and Valsalva whilst bladder base position was monitored on trans-abdominal ultrasound. A correct PFM contraction was defined as one that resulted in bladder base elevation and a Valsalva resulted in bladder base depression. RESULTS: Comparison of the mean of the normalized EMG activity of all the individual muscle groups was significantly different between PFM contraction and Valsalva (P = 0.04). During a correct PFM contraction, the PFM were more active than during Valsalva (P = 0.001). During Valsalva, all the abdominal muscles (IO (P = 0.006), EO (P < 0.001), RA (P = 0.011)), and the chest wall (P < 0.001) were more active than during PFM contraction. The change in IAP was greater during Valsalva (P = 0.001) but there was no difference in the change in vaginal pressure between PFM contraction and Valsalva (P = 0.971). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates a difference in muscle activation patterns between a correct PFM contraction and Valsalva maneuver. It is important to include assessment of the abdominal wall, chest wall, and respiration in the clinical evaluation of women performing PFM exercises as abdominal wall bracing combined with an increase in chest wall activity may cause rises in IAP and PFM descent.

Abdominal Wall↗

PubMed2005

Assessment of pelvic floor movement using transabdominal and transperineal ultrasound.

The aims of the study were (1) to assess the reliability of transabdominal (TA) and transperineal (TP) ultrasound during a pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction and Valsalva manoeuvre and (2) to compare TA ultrasound with TP ultrasound for predicting the direction and magnitude of bladder neck movement in a mixed subject population. A qualified sonographer assessed 120 women using both TA and TP ultrasound. Ten women were tested on two occasions for reliability. The reliability during PFM was excellent for both methods. TP ultrasound was more reliable than TA ultrasound during Valsalva. The percentage agreement between TA and TP ultrasound for assessing the direction of movement was 85% during PFM contraction, 100% during Valsalva. There were significant correlations between the magnitude of the measurements taken using TA and TP ultrasound and significant correlations with PFM strength assessed by digital palpation.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Expanded paper towel test: an objective test of urine loss for stress incontinence.

AIM: To investigate the repeatability of a short stress test of coughing and jumping (the expanded Paper Towel Test (PTT)) to quantify urine loss in stress incontinent adult women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the laboratory, the reliability of two methods of measuring the size of the wet area, produced by a typical volume of water titrated onto paper towel was investigated and some absorbency properties of the brand of towel used were quantified. Thirty one women performed a provocative coughing and jumping test on consecutive days using a "perineal pad" of paper towel. The repeatability coefficient was calculated. RESULTS: The provocative test was repeatable to within 2.8 ml of urine loss, but with the exclusion of one anomalous result, the repeatability improved to lie within 1 ml. The coefficient of variation (CV) for the between-method differences (computer scanning and graph paper) was 1.27%. A volume of 1 ml of water produced a wet area of 25.7 cm2. The range of measurable areas corresponded to volumes of 0.005-8 ml. Standardization of method is required because the size of the wet area differed by manufacturer of paper towel (P < 0.01, two products compared) and with time elapsed since titration (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The "expanded PTT" is a simple tool for quantification of urine loss (0.005-8 ml) in women to 72 years with stress incontinence. With a suggested modification, it should prove reliable for detection of between-visit differences of 1 ml. The reliability of the test is dependent upon the use of standard protocol and paper towel with known volume-area ratio. To improve clinical diagnosis, it can also be used with any brand of paper towel to confirm the sign of stress incontinence on exertion.

Absorption↗

PubMed1999

Ethical approval.

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Journal Article↗