Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 89, Issue 9 , Pages 1741-1747 , September 2008

Pelvic Floor Muscle Activity in Different Sitting Postures in Continent and Incontinent Women

Presented to the World Confederation of Physical Therapy, June 5, 2007, Vancouver, BC, Canada.

  • Ruth R. Sapsford, Dip Phty

      Affiliations

    • Department of Physiotherapy, Mater Health Services, Brisbane, Australia
    • Division of Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
    • Corresponding Author InformationReprint requests to Ruth R. Sapsford, Dip Phty, Div of Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Qld 4075, Australia
    • ,
  • Carolyn A. Richardson, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
    • ,
  • Christopher F. Maher, FRANZCOG

      Affiliations

    • Department of Urogynaecology, Mater Health Services, Brisbane, Australia
    • ,
  • Paul W. Hodges, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Physiotherapy, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

  • Image Result

    Diagrammatic representation of the upright unsupported (A) and the slump supported (B) sitting postures used in the study.

    Diagrammatic representation of the upright unsupported (A) and the slump supported (B) sitting postures used in the study.

  • Image Result

    Tracing of spinal curves from C7 to S2, in slump supported sitting and upright unsupported sitting, in an asymptomatic subject. Measurements of the depth of (a) thoracic and (b) lumbar curves from the

    Tracing of spinal curves from C7 to S2, in slump supported sitting and upright unsupported sitting, in an asymptomatic subject. Measurements of the depth of (a) thoracic and (b) lumbar curves from the vertical alignment were made as indicated by the horizontal lines. Legend: a1, depth of the thoracic kyphosis in upright unsupported sitting; a2, depth of the thoracic kyphosis in slump supported sitting.

  • Image Result
    Changes in electromyographic (EMG) muscle activity in 3 different sitting postures—slump supported, upright unsupported, and very tall sitting—in asymptomatic (black box) and symptomatic subjects (whi

    Changes in electromyographic (EMG) muscle activity in 3 different sitting postures—slump supported, upright unsupported, and very tall sitting—in asymptomatic (black box) and symptomatic subjects (white box). Abbreviations: LOE, left obliquus externus abdominis; LOI, left obliquus internus abdominis and transversus abdominis; RA, rectus abdominis; ROE, right obliquus externus abdominis; ROI, right obliquus internus abdominis and transversus abdominis. *P<.05 comparison between postures; †P<.05 for comparison between groups.

 Supported by the National Continence and Women's Health Group of the Australian Physiotherapy Association, and the National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.

 No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit upon the authors or upon any organization with which the authors are associated.

PII: S0003-9993(08)00425-5

doi: 10.1016/j.apmr.2008.01.029

Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Volume 89, Issue 9 , Pages 1741-1747 , September 2008

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