Pelvic floor muscles after prostate radiation therapy: morpho-functional assessment by magnetic resonance imaging, surface electromyography and digital anal palpation.

AIM: To evaluate the radiotherapy (RT) effect in the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) function in men with prostate cancer (PC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study included three groups of patients with PC and RT indication: 1) Pre-RT group: evaluated before the beginning of RT; 2) Acute group: evaluated between six months and one year after RT; 3) Late Group: evaluated between two and a half years and four years post-RT. PFM assessment was divided into: a) functional assessment through the digital anal palpation (Modified Oxford Scale) and surface electromyography (sEMG) with anal probe; b) anatomical assessment by pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with thickness measurements of levator ani muscle and pelvic specific parameters at rest and under Valsalva maneuver. We used Student t test, considering as significant p <0.05. RESULTS: Thirty-three men were assessed: Pre-RT (n=12); Acute (n=10) and Late (n=11) groups. PFM functional assessment showed Late group with lower electromyographic activity, especially in the sustained contractions when compared to the Pre-RT (p=0.003) and Acute groups (p=0.006). There was no significant difference between groups in MRI. CONCLUSION: PFM functional assessment showed a decrease in sEMG activity in the Late group post-RT. Most of the sample (72.7%) did not know how to actively contract the PFM or had a weak voluntary contraction when assessed by digital anal palpation. Also, these patients presented higher prevalence of pelvic complaints. No changes were observed in the morpho-functional parameters evaluated by MRI, except the measurement of the membranous urethra length when comparing Pre-RT Group and Acute and Late Groups.

Intravaginal electrical stimulation increases voluntarily pelvic floor muscle contractions in women who are unable to voluntarily contract their pelvic floor muscles: a randomised trial.

QUESTION: In women who are unable to contract their pelvic floor muscles voluntarily, what is the effect of an intravaginal electrical stimulation regimen on their ability to contract the pelvic floor muscles and on self-reported urinary incontinence? DESIGN: Randomised controlled trial with concealed allocation, blinded assessors and intention-to-treat analysis. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty-four women with pelvic floor muscle function assessed by bi-digital palpation to be grade 0 or 1 on the Modified Oxford Scale. INTERVENTION: For 8 weeks, participants randomised to the experimental group received weekly 20-minute sessions of intravaginal electrical stimulation with instructions to attempt pelvic floor muscle contractions during the bursts of electrical stimulation in the final 10 minutes of each session. The control group received no intervention. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was ability to voluntarily contract the pelvic floor muscles, evaluated through vaginal palpation using the Modified Oxford Scale. Secondary outcomes were prevalence and severity of urinary incontinence symptoms assessed by the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire on Urinary Incontinence-Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF) score from 0 to 21. RESULTS: Sixty-one participants provided outcome data. After the intervention, the ability to contract the pelvic floor muscles was acquired by 36% of the experimental group and 12% of the control group (absolute risk difference 0.24, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.43). The experimental group also improved by a mean of 2 points more than the control group on the ICIQ-UI-SF score (95% CI 0.02 to 3.97). CONCLUSION: In women who are unable to contract their pelvic floor muscles voluntarily, 8 weeks of intravaginal electrical stimulation with voluntary contraction attempts improved their ability to contract their pelvic floor muscles and reduced the overall severity and impact of urinary incontinence on quality of life. Although the main estimates of these effects indicate that the effects are large enough to be worthwhile, the precision of these estimates was low, so it is not possible to confirm whether the effects are trivial or worthwhile. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT03319095.

Importance of pelvic muscle tenderness evaluation in women with chronic pelvic pain.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of pelvic muscle tenderness in women with chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and to assess the importance of evaluating muscle tenderness in such women. DESIGN: Observational study of 48 healthy female volunteers and 108 women with CPP, who were clinically evaluated for pelvic muscle tenderness by two researchers blinded to all clinical data. RESULTS: The frequency of clinically detected pelvic muscle tenderness was significantly higher in women with CPP than in healthy volunteers (58.3% vs 4.2%, P < 0.001). Among women with CPP, those with pelvic muscle tenderness had higher Beck Depression Index scores (22 [6-42] vs 13 [3-39], P = 0.02) and higher rates of dyspareunia (63.5% [40/63] vs 28.9% [13/45], P < 0.004) and constipation (46.0% [29/63] vs 26.7% [12/45], P = 0.05) than those without pelvic muscle tenderness. CONCLUSION: Tenderness of pelvic muscles was highly prevalent among women with CPP and was associated with higher BDI scores and higher rates of dyspareunia and constipation. Determination of pelvic muscle tenderness may help in identifying women who require more intense treatment for CPP.

Do Women have Adequate Knowledge about Pelvic Floor Dysfunctions? A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to investigate whether women present adequate knowledge of the main pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) (urinary incontinence - UI, fecal incontinence - FI, and pelvic organ prolapse - POP). DATA SOURCES: A systematic review was performed in the MEDLINE, PEDro, CENTRAL, and Cochrane databases for publications from inception to April 2018. SELECTION OF STUDIES: A total of 3,125 studies were reviewed. Meta-analysis was not possible due to the heterogeneity of primary outcomes and the diversity of instruments for measuring knowledge. The quality of the articles included in the analysis was evaluated with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) adapted for cross-sectional studies. DATA COLLECTION: Two authors performed data extraction into a standardized spreadsheet. DATA SYNTHESIS: Nineteen studies were included, comprising 11,512 women. About the methodological quality (NOS), most of the studies (n = 11) presented a total score of 6 out of 10. Validated questionnaires and designed pilot-tested forms were the most frequently used ways of assessing knowledge. Some studies were stratified by race, age, or group minorities. The most used questionnaire was the prolapse and incontinence knowledge questionnaire (PIKQ) (n = 5). Knowledge and/or awareness regarding PFD was low to moderate among the studies. Urinary incontinence was the most prevalent PFD investigated, and the most important risk factors associated with the lack of knowledge of the pelvic floor were: African-American ethnicity (n = 3), low educational level (n = 4), low access to information (n = 5) and socioeconomic status (n = 3). CONCLUSION: Most women have a gap in the knowledge of pelvic floor muscle dysfunctions, do not understand their treatment options, and are not able to identify risk factors for these disorders.

OBJETIVOS: Nós investigamos se as mulheres possuem adequado nível de conhecimento sobre as principais disfunções do assoalho pélvico (incontinência urinária ­ IU, incontinência fecal ­ IF, e prolapso de órgãos pélvicos ­ POP). FONTES DE DADOS: Uma revisão sistemática foi realizada nas bases de dados MEDLINE, PEDro, CENTRAL e Cochrane com publicações até abril de 2018. SELEçãO DOS ESTUDOS: Foram triados 3.125 estudos. A metanálise não foi possível devido a heterogeneidade dos desfechos analisados e a diversidade de instrumentos para aferir o conhecimento. A qualidade dos artigos incluídos na análise foi avaliada pela escala de Newcastle-Ottawa (NOS) adaptada para estudos transversais. EXTRAçãO DE DADOS: Dois autores fizeram a extração em uma planilha previamente testada. SíNTESE DE DADOS: Dezenove estudos foram incluídos, totalizando 11.512 mulheres. A NOS apresentou um score de 6 (total = 10) na maioria dos estudos (n = 11). Para a avaliação do conhecimento do assoalho pélvico, questionários validados e testados de forma piloto foram empregados. Alguns estudos foram estratificados segundo raça, idade, ou minorias. Encontrou-se baixo a moderado nível de conhecimento e/ou percepção sobre as disfunções do assoalho pélvico. O mais usado foi o prolapse and incontinence knowledge questionnaire (PIKQ) (n = 5). A IU foi a disfunção pélvica mais investigada, e os fatores de risco mais importantes associados com a falta de conhecimento foram: etnicidade afro-americana (n = 3), nível baixo educacional (n = 5), baixo acesso a informação (n = 5), e status socioeconômico (n = 3). CONCLUSãO: A maioria das mulheres leigas tem uma lacuna de conhecimento sobre as disfunções do assoalho pélvico, baixo conhecimento sobre opções de tratamento e sobre os fatores de risco para essas disfunções.

Physiotherapy methods to facilitate pelvic floor muscle contraction: A systematic review.

AIM: To undertake a systematic review of the literature on physical therapy methods to facilitate voluntary pelvic floor muscles (PFM) contraction. METHODS: The databases consulted were PubMed, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PEDro and CINHAL. The study included randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental trials and systematic reviews. The GRADE scale was used to assess methodological quality. RESULTS: Six manuscripts were included. The methods investigated included instruction regarding the anatomy and function of the PFM, vaginal palpation, palpation on the central perineal tendon, interruption of urinary flow, biofeedback using a perineometer, vaginal cones, hypopressive exercise, PFM contraction associated with diaphragmatic breathing; and coactivation of abdominal muscles. The studies showed improvement in PFM contraction, but most were of low methodological quality. Only one study was characterized as being of high methodological quality. CONCLUSION: All the studies observed improvement in PFM contraction using various methods, but none were superior over the others. The studies revealed no adverse effects of the interventions used. Patient preferences should be taken into account in clinical decision-making. More studies of high methodological quality on this topic are needed.

An education program about pelvic floor muscles improved women's knowledge but not pelvic floor muscle function, urinary incontinence or sexual function: a randomised trial.

QUESTION: Does an educational program with instructions for performing 'the Knack' improve voluntary contraction of the pelvic floor muscles, reduce reports of urinary incontinence, improve sexual function, and promote women's knowledge of the pelvic floor muscles? DESIGN: Randomised, controlled trial with concealed allocation, intention-to-treat analysis and blinded assessors. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-nine women from the local community. INTERVENTION: The experimental group (n=50) received one lecture per week for 4 weeks, and instructions for performing 'the Knack'. The control group (n=49) received no intervention. OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was maximum voluntary contraction of the pelvic floor muscles measured using manometry. Secondary outcomes were: ability to contract the pelvic floor muscles measured using vaginal palpation; severity of urinary incontinence measured by the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF) scored from 0 to 21; self-reported sexual function; and knowledge related to the pelvic floor. Outcomes were measured at baseline and after 4 weeks. RESULTS: The intervention did not significantly improve: maximum voluntary contraction (MD 2.7 cmH2O higher in the experimental group, 95% CI -0.5 to 5.9); ability to contract the pelvic floor muscles (RR 2.18, 95% CI 0.49 to 9.65); or self-reported severity of urinary incontinence (MD 1 point greater reduction in the experimental group, 95% CI -3 to 1). Sexual function did not significantly differ between groups, but very few of the women engaged in sexual activity during the study period. The educational program did, however, significantly increase women's knowledge related to the location, functions and dysfunctions of the pelvic floor muscles, and treatment options. CONCLUSION: Education and teaching women to perform 'the Knack' had no significant effect on voluntary contraction of the pelvic floor muscles, urinary incontinence or sexual function, but it promoted women's knowledge about the pelvic floor. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials, RBR-95sxqv. [de Andrade RL, Bø K, Antonio FI, Driusso P, Mateus-Vasconcelos ECL, Ramos S, Julio MP, Ferreira CHJ (2018) An education program about pelvic floor muscles improved women's knowledge but not pelvic floor muscle function, urinary incontinence or sexual function: a randomised trial. Journal of Physiotherapy 64: 91-96].

Pelvic floor muscles after prostate radiation therapy: morpho-functional assessment by magnetic resonance imaging, surface electromyography and digital anal palpation

ABSTRACT Aim: To evaluate the radiotherapy (RT) effect in the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) function in men with prostate cancer (PC). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study included three groups of patients with PC and RT indication: 1) Pre-RT group: evaluated before the beginning of RT; 2) Acute group: evaluated between six months and one year after RT; 3) Late Group: evaluated between two and a half years and four years post-RT. PFM assessment was divided into: a) functional assessment through the digital anal palpation (Modified Oxford Scale) and surface electromyography (sEMG) with anal probe; b) anatomical assessment by pelvic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with thickness measurements of levator ani muscle and pelvic specific parameters at rest and under Valsalva maneuver. We used Student t test, considering as significant p <0.05. Results: Thirty-three men were assessed: Pre-RT (n=12); Acute (n=10) and Late (n=11) groups. PFM functional assessment showed Late group with lower electromyographic activity, especially in the sustained contractions when compared to the Pre-RT (p=0.003) and Acute groups (p=0.006). There was no significant difference between groups in MRI. Conclusion: PFM functional assessment showed a decrease in sEMG activity in the Late group post-RT. Most of the sample (72.7%) did not know how to actively contract the PFM or had a weak voluntary contraction when assessed by digital anal palpation. Also, these patients presented higher prevalence of pelvic complaints. No changes were observed in the morpho-functional parameters evaluated by MRI, except the measurement of the membranous urethra length when comparing Pre-RT Group and Acute and Late Groups.

Do women have adequate knowledge about pelvic floor dysfunctions? A systematic review / Será que as mulheres têm conhecimento adequado sobre as disfunções do assoalho pélvico? Uma revisão sistemática

Abstract Objective We sought to investigate whether women present adequate knowledge of the main pelvic floor disorders (PFDs) (urinary incontinence - UI, fecal incontinence - FI, and pelvic organ prolapse - POP). Data sources A systematic review was performed in the MEDLINE, PEDro, CENTRAL, and Cochrane databases for publications from inception to April 2018. Selection of studies A total of 3,125 studies were reviewed. Meta-analysis was not possible due to the heterogeneity of primary outcomes and the diversity of instruments for measuring knowledge. The quality of the articles included in the analysis was evaluated with the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) adapted for cross-sectional studies. Data collection Two authors performed data extraction into a standardized spreadsheet. Data synthesis Nineteen studies were included, comprising 11,512 women. About the methodological quality (NOS), most of the studies (n= 11) presented a total score of 6 out of 10. Validated questionnaires and designed pilot-tested forms were the most frequently used ways of assessing knowledge. Some studies were stratified by race, age, or group minorities. The most used questionnaire was the prolapse and incontinence knowledge questionnaire (PIKQ) (n= 5). Knowledge and/or awareness regarding PFD was low to moderate among the studies. Urinary incontinence was the most prevalent PFD investigated, and the most important risk factors associated with the lack of knowledge of the pelvic floor were: African-American ethnicity (n= 3), low educational level (n= 4), low access to information (n= 5) and socioeconomic status (n= 3). Conclusion Most women have a gap in the knowledge of pelvic floor muscle dysfunctions, do not understand their treatment options, and are not able to identify risk factors for these disorders.

Resumo Objetivos Nós investigamos se as mulheres possuem adequado nível de conhecimento sobre as principais disfunções do assoalho pélvico (incontinência urinária - IU, incontinência fecal - IF, e prolapso de órgãos pélvicos - POP). Fontes de dados Uma revisão sistemática foi realizada nas bases de dados MEDLINE, PEDro, CENTRAL e Cochrane com publicações até abril de 2018. Seleção dos estudos Foram triados 3.125 estudos. A metanálise não foi possível devido a heterogeneidade dos desfechos analisados e a diversidade de instrumentos para aferir o conhecimento. A qualidade dos artigos incluídos na análise foi avaliada pela escala de Newcastle-Ottawa (NOS) adaptada para estudos transversais. Extração de dados Dois autores fizeram a extração em uma planilha previamente testada. Síntese de dados Dezenove estudos foram incluídos, totalizando 11.512 mulheres. A NOS apresentou um score de 6 (total = 10) na maioria dos estudos (n = 11). Para a avaliação do conhecimento do assoalho pélvico, questionários validados e testados de forma piloto foram empregados. Alguns estudos foram estratificados segundo raça, idade, ou minorias. Encontrou-se baixo a moderado nível de conhecimento e/ou percepção sobre as disfunções do assoalho pélvico. O mais usado foi o prolapse and incontinence knowledge questionnaire (PIKQ) (n = 5). A IU foi a disfunção pélvica mais investigada, e os fatores de risco mais importantes associados com a falta de conhecimento foram: etnicidade afro-americana (n = 3), nível baixo educacional (n = 5), baixo acesso a informação (n = 5), e status socioeconômico (n = 3). Conclusão A maioria das mulheres leigas tem uma lacuna de conhecimento sobre as disfunções do assoalho pélvico, baixo conhecimento sobre opções de tratamento e sobre os fatores de risco para essas disfunções.

Functional assessment of the pelvic floor muscles by electromyography: is there a normalization in data analysis? A systematic review / Avaliação funcional dos músculos do assoalho pélvico pela eletromiografia: existe a normalização na análise de dados? Uma revisão sistemática / Evaluación funcional de los músculos del suelo pélvico por la electromiografía: ¿la normalización existe en el análisis de datos? Una revisión sistemática

ABSTRACT This study aims to evaluate the method of analysis of electromyographic data considering the functional assessment of pelvic floor muscles (PFM). We have included in our search strategy the following databases: Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PEDro, and IBECS, considering articles published in the last ten years (2004-2014). The identified articles were independently examined by two evaluators, according to these inclusion criteria: (1) population: female adults; (2) PFM assessment by electromyography (EMG) with vaginal/anal probe; and (3) description of how electromyographic data analysis is performed. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used to assess the risk of bias. We identified 508 articles, of which 23 were included in the review. The data showed differences between the collection protocols, and a significant number of studies did not normalize the electromyographic data. Physiotherapists are among the clinicians who most frequently use EMG to evaluate the function and dysfunction of the neuromuscular system. Although some previous studies have provided an overview to guide the evaluator in the assessment, few succeeding studies followed their recommendations.

RESUMO Este estudo objetiva analisar o método de análise dos dados eletromiográficos na avaliação funcional dos músculos do assoalho pélvico (MAP). As bases de dados consultadas foram: Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials e Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PEDro e IBECS, considerando-se artigos publicados nos últimos dez anos (2004-2014). Os artigos identificados foram avaliados independentemente por dois avaliadores, de acordo com os critérios de inclusão: (1) população: mulheres adultas; (2) avaliação dos MAP utilizando a eletromiografia (EMG) com sonda vaginal ou anal; (3) descrição de como é feita a análise dos dados eletromiográficos. O instrumento Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) foi usado para avaliação da qualidade metodológica dos estudos. Foram identificados 508 artigos, dos quais 23 foram incluídos na revisão. Os dados mostraram diferenças entre os protocolos de coleta, e um número significativo de estudos não utilizaram a normalização na análise dos dados eletromiográficos. Os fisioterapeutas estão entre os profissionais que mais utilizam a EMG para avaliar a função e disfunção do sistema neuromuscular. Apesar de alguns estudos anteriores fornecerem uma visão geral para orientar o avaliador no uso deste instrumento, poucos estudos subsequentes seguiram suas recomendações.

RESUMEN Se evaluó, en este estudio, el método de análisis de los datos electromiográficos en la evaluación funcional de los músculos del suelo pélvico. Las bases de datos consultadas fueron: Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, PEDro y IBECS. La investigación fue refinada considerándose artículos publicados en los últimos diez años (2004 a 2014). Se evaluaron de forma independiente los artículos identificados por dos evaluadores, según los siguientes criterios de inclusión: (1) población: mujeres adultas; (2) evaluación de los músculos del suelo pélvico utilizándose la electromiografía (EMG) con sonda vaginal o anal; (3) descripción de cómo es el análisis de los datos electromiográficos. Se utilizó el instrumento Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) para evaluar la calidad metodológica de los estudios. Se identificaron 508 artículos y 23 de estos fueron incluidos en la revisión. Los datos mostraron diferencias entre los protocolos de recolección y un número significativo de estudios no utilizaron la normalización en el análisis de los datos electromiográficos. Los fisioterapeutas están entre los profesionales que más utilizan la EMG para evaluar la función y disfunción del sistema neuromuscular. Aunque algunos estudios anteriores proporcionen una visión general para orientar el evaluador en el uso de este instrumento, pocos estudios posteriores han seguido sus recomendaciones.

Pelvic symptoms after radiotherapy in prostate cancer: a cross-sectional study / Sintomas pélvicos após radioterapia para o câncer de próstata: um estudo transversal

Abstract Introduction: Despite the technical and scientific progress that improved therapeutic resources available in Oncology, adverse effects of treatment can be prominent, impacting the quality of life (QoL). Objective: This research aims to determine the prevalence of post-radiotherapy pelvic symptoms in prostate cancer (PC) and its impact on QoL. Methods: We assessed three groups of patients at different stages during radiotherapy (RT): Pre-RT, evaluated before of RT; Post-RT#1, evaluated between six months and one year post-RT; Post-RT#2, evaluated between two and a half and four years post-RT. The presence of urinary incontinence (UI), its characteristics and impact on daily living activities (DLA) were evaluated by ICIQ-SF questionnaire. WHOQOL-BREF questionnaire was used to assess QoL. Student t test was used, considering significant p < 0.05. Results: Thirty-three men were assessed (pre-RT, n = 12; Post-RT#1, n = 10; Post-RT#2, n = 11). The prevalence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) was highest in Post-RT#1 group. Post-RT#2 group had the highest prevalence of post-RT UI. In QoL, Pre-RT and Post-RT#2 groups experiencing the greatest impact on physical, environmental and overall QoL. Conclusion: Acute effect of RT is characterized by a high prevalence of LUTS. Post-RT#2 group experienced the most adverse effects on DLA due to a higher prevalence of post-RT UI.

Resumo Introdução: Apesar do progresso técnico e científico que melhorou recursos terapêuticos disponíveis na Oncologia, efeitos adversos do tratamento podem ser proeminentes, impactando a qualidade de vida (QoL). Objetivo: Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo determinar a prevalência de sintomas pélvicos pós-radioterapia no câncer de próstata (CaP) e seu impacto na QoL. Métodos: Avaliou-se três grupos de pacientes com CaP em diferentes estágios da radioterapia (RT): (1) Pré-RT, avaliados antes da RT; (2) Pós-RT #1, avaliados entre seis meses e um ano pós-RT; (3) Pós-RT #2, avaliados entre dois anos e meio e quatro anos pós-RT. A presença de incontinência urinária (IU), suas características e o impacto sobre as atividades da vida diária (AVD) foram avaliados através do questionário ICIQ-SF. O questionário WHOQOL-BREF foi utilizado para avaliar a QoL. O teste t de Student foi utilizado para análise estatística, considerando significativo p < 0,05. Resultados: Trinta e três homens foram avaliados (pré-RT, n = 12; Pós-RT #1, n = 10; Pós-RT #2, n = 11). A prevalência de sintomas do trato urinário inferior (STUI) foi maior no grupo Pós-RT #1. O grupo Pós-RT #2 teve a maior prevalência de IU pós RT. Na avaliação da QoL, os grupos Pré-RT e Pós-RT #2 apresentaram maior impacto negativo sobre os índices relacionados aos quesitos físico, ambiental e global. Conclusão: O efeito agudo da RT foi caracterizado por uma elevada prevalência de STUI. O grupo Pós-RT #2 experimentaram maior impacto negativo as AVD, devido a uma maior prevalência de IU pós RT.