What is the Best Verbal Instruction for Contraction the Pelvic Floor Muscles?

University of Haifa

Status: Completed

Conditions: Pelvic Floor Muscle Weakness

Treatments: Diagnostic Test: verbal instruction

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT03400540

AU-NBA-20171221

Details and patient eligibility

About

The aim of this study is to T to compare the effectiveness of producing a pelvic floor muscle contraction by different verbal instruction. Pelvic floor muscle contraction will be measured displacement of the pelvic floor when imaged on ultrasound.

Full description

This study will examine pelvic floor muscle contraction following different verbal instructions. This is a cross-sectional exploratory study. Physical-therapy students will be recruited to complete a survey and non-invasive transabdominal ultrasound assessment.

A bladder filling protocol will be implemented to ensure subjects will have sufficient fluid in their bladders to allow clear ultrasound imaging. This protocol involved subjects consuming 600-750 ml of water in a 1 hr. period. The participants will be tested in a crook-lying supine position with a pillow under their heads for comfort.

The participants will be divided into 2 groups randomly. Both groups will be given three different verbal instructions to contract pelvic floor muscles. Each contraction will be performed 3 time with rests of 10 sec between contractions. While the first 2 contractions for each verbal instruction will be held for 3 sec. the last contraction will be held as long as the participant can conduct and the time of contraction will be measured as well. The pelvic floor contraction will be measured by assessing bladder displacement via diagnostic ultrasound.

To image the pelvic floor a 5 MHz curved linear array transducer (Mindray M5) will be placed in the transverse plane immediately suprapubically over the lower abdomen angled at 15-30 degrees from the vertical. An on screen caliper and measurement tool will be used to measure bladder displacement.

Enrollment: 56 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• willing to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

• pregnancy
• previous abdominal surgeries

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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56 participants in 2 patient groups

Group A

Experimental group

Description:

The participants will be verbal instructed to contract the pelvic floor muscle with the following sentences: 1. "squeeze the pelvic floor muscles" 2. "squeeze and lift the pelvic floor muscles as if stopping the flow of urine" 3. "Take a moderate breath in, let the breath out, draw in and lift your pelvic floor." 4. "contract all of the above together"

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: verbal instruction

Group B

Experimental group

Description:

The participants will be verbal instructed to contract the pelvic floor muscle with the following sentences: 1. "squeeze the pelvic floor muscles" 2. "squeeze the anus" 3. "Take a moderate breath in, let the breath out, draw in and lift your pelvic floor." 4. "contract all of the above together"

Treatment:

Diagnostic Test: verbal instruction