Affiliations: [a] Department of Physical Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran | [b] Neuromuscular Rehabilitation Research Center, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran | [c] Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran | [d] University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Amir Massoud Arab, Department of Physical Therapy, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Evin, Koodakyar Ave., Tehran 1985713831, Iran. Tel.: +98 21 22180039; Fax: +98 21 22180039; E-mail:arabloo_masoud@hotmail.com
Abstract: BACKGROUND: There was controversy in finding of studies related
pelvic floor muscle (PFM) rehabilitation of subjects with low back pain
(LBP), while this issue is very important for treatment of subjects with
LBP. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate PFM
contraction in three conditions of alone and with abdominal hollowing (AH)
or abdominal bracing (AB) maneuvers in subjects with and without chronic
LBP. METHODS: Subjects were divided into two groups: subjects with LBP
(N = 25) and without LBP (N = 27). PFM contraction alone and during contraction
with AH or AB maneuvers was measured. The amount of bladder base movement
was measured as an indicator of PFM activity. RESULTS: There were no differences in PFM activity between subjects
with and without chronic LBP, when PFM contracted alone (P = 0.60), contracted
with AH (P= 0.12) and AB maneuver (P = 0.54). Our data revealed that
contraction of the PFM alone produce greater displacement of the bladder
base than contraction of the PFM with AH (P = 0.005) or AB maneuver (P = 0.001)
in both groups. However, no significant difference was found between
contraction of the PFM with AH and AB maneuver in individuals with LBP
(P = 0.31). CONCLUSION: It seems that PFM contraction alone is more effective
than PFM contraction with AH or AB maneuvers in lifting the pelvic floor in
subjects with and without LBP.
