Chen HL, Lin YC, Chien WJ, Huang WC, Lin HY & Chen PL. The Journal of Urology. 2009 March; 181: 1217-1223
Women’s Health Distance
Journal Club 1/08/2014
Jacqueline M York, PT, DPT,
CHES
Purpose:
To examine the effects of ankle position on PFM activity and MVC.
Participants:
31 women between 26 to 60 (30-56 later in article?) years old were recruited
from teaching hospital in northern Taiwan. One participant experienced
5 pregnancies and another 3, however type of delivery not specified. Parity of
other participants was not directly described. It was not described whether or
not participants were continent.
Inclusion
Criteria: Women who could correctly perform PFM contraction and rise up on toes
Exclusion
Criteria: Pregnant, Previous gynecologic surgery or any foot/ankle joint
disease/disorder
Standardized
protocol: Subjects placed separately in
private rooms. Protocol was explained to subject, consent signed, PFM contraction
taught and confirmed via EMG biofeedback with intra-vaginal probe. Subjects
contract PFM in eight different positions. Order of positioning was chosen at
random via drawing from a box. Subjects
performed three PFM contractions in each position in a pre-defined, randomized
order. A ten second rest was allowed after each contraction and a three-minute
rest was allowed between each position. PFM contractions were recorded in four
active and four passive ankle positions. Active positions included dorsiflexion
and plantar flexion with and without arms raised. Passive positions included
plantar flexion and dorsiflexion on 2.5 cm and 4.5 cm wedge. The subjects
visualized the contraction on a computer screen and the FemiScan equipment
recorded maximum and mean MVC amplitude for each contraction.
