ABSTRACT
Pelvic floor neuromuscular function was evaluated with surface electromyography using
acrylic plug electrodes and interactions between neuromuscular function and factors
pertinent to the delivery process were explored. Fifty-two women who were primiparas
participated in this prospective cohort study. Circumvaginal and circumrectal muscles
were assessed. Corrected vaginal-rectal flicks and holds were calculated. The results
were compared by delivery route, birthweight, race, lactational status, and delivery
anesthetic and to a group of nulliparous subjects. The mean interval from delivery
was 46.3 days. Birthweight, race, lactational status, and anesthetic technique were
not associated with statistically significant changes in electrical activity, although
our ability to detect such differences was low due to the small number of subjects.
Women who delivered vaginally had lower vaginal flick voltage than those delivering
abdominally. Women who delivered vaginally had lower vaginal flick and hold voltages
and rectal flick voltage when compared with nulliparous women studied earlier. Abdominally
delivered women had values similar to the nulliparous group. Women delivering vaginally
had less surface electromyographic activity in the circumvaginal muscles, implying
that vaginal delivery impairs the neuromuscular function of the pelvic floor.
Keywords
Electromyography - acrylic plug surface electrodes - pelvic floor function
