Strength of pelvic floor in men: reliability intra examiners

Força dos músculos do assoalho pélvico em homens: confiabilidade intraexaminadores

Fuerza de los músculos del piso pélvico en hombres: confiabilidad intraexaminadores

Abstract

Introduction:

The obtaining of urinary continence is due to the strength of the pelvic floor muscles (MAPs) at the moment of muscle contraction, when there are sudden increases in intra-abdominal pressure, which increases urethral closure pressure and decreases the possibility of urinary loss.

Objective:

To verify the reliability, type: stability, intra-examiner, of the measure of the strength of MAPs held with Peritron.

Methods:

Test and retest study to assess the intra-rater reliability of Peritron to measure the strength of MAPs. The sample consisted of 36 male patients, mean age 65.3 ± 7.2 years, all with urinary incontinence (UI) after radical prostatectomy. The physical therapist conducted a training for familiarization with the procedures of MAPs strength assessment with Peritron for two weeks. The strength of MAPs was measured by a perineometer of the Peritron brand (PFX 9300®, Cardio-Design Pty. Ltd, Baulkham Hills, Australia, 2153).

Results:

The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was equal to 0.99; P = 0.0001. The typical measurement error (ETM) was equal to 3.1 cmH₂O and ETM% of 4.

Conclusion:

Peritron showed high reliability for measuring the strength of MAPs in men, both for clinical practice and for the production of scientific knowledge. It should be noted that such measures were carried out in stability, so it is suggested that in internal consistency reliability is equivalent.

Keywords:
Stability; Reliability; Muscle strength; Pelvic floor

Resumo

Introdução:

A força de contração dos músculos do assoalho pélvico (MAPs) pode contribuir para a continência urinária, quando ocorrem súbitos aumentos de pressão intra-abdominal.

Objetivo:

Verificar a confiabilidade, tipo estabilidade, intraexaminador, da medida da força dos MAPs, realizada com o Peritron.

Métodos:

Estudo de teste e reteste para avaliar a confiabilidade intra-avaliador do Peritron para medir a força dos MAPs. A amostra foi composta por 36 pacientes do sexo masculino, com média de idade de 65,3 ± 7,2 anos, todos com incontinência urinária (IU) após prostatectomia radical. O fisioterapeuta realizou um treinamento para familiarização com os procedimentos de avaliação da força dos MAPs com o Peritron, durante duas semanas. A força dos MAPs foi medida por um perineômetro da marca Peritron (PFX 9300®, Cardio-Design Pty. Ltd, Baulkham Hills, Austrália, 2153).

Resultados:

O CCI foi igual a 0,99; P = 0,0001. O ETM foi igual a 3,1 cmH₂O e o ETM% igual a 4.

Conclusão:

o Peritron mostrou elevada confiabilidade para medir a força dos MAPs em homens, tanto para a prática clínica quanto para a produção de conhecimento científico. Cabe ressaltar que tais medidas foram realizadas em estabilidade, portanto, sugere-se que em consistência interna sua confiabilidade seja equivalente.

Palavras-chave:
Estabilidade; Confiabilidade; Força muscular; Assoalho pélvico

Resumen

Introducción:

La obtención de la continencia urinaria es debido a la fuerza de los músculos del piso pélvico (MAPs) en el momento de su contracción muscular, cuando ocurren súbitos aumentos de presión intraabdominal, lo que aumenta la presión de cierre uretral y disminuye la posibilidad de pérdida de la orina.

Objetivo:

Verificar la confiabilidad, tipo estabilidad, intra examinador, de la medida de la fuerza de los MAPs, realizada con el Peritrón.

Métodos:

Estudio de prueba y reprueba para evaluar la confiabilidad intra-evaluadora del Peritrón para medir la fuerza de los MAPs. La muestra fue compuesta por 36 pacientes del sexo masculino, la media de edad era de 65,3 ± 7,2 años, todos con IU después de la prostatectomía radical. El fisioterapeuta realizó un entrenamiento para familiarización de los procedimientos de evaluación de la fuerza de los MAPs con el Peritrón, durante dos semanas. La fuerza de los MAPs fue medida por un perineómetro de la marca Peritron (PFX 9300®, Cardio-Design Pty., Ltd, Baulkham Hills, Australia, 2153).

Resultados:

El coeficiente de correlación intraclase (CCI) fue igual a 0,99; P = 0,0001. El error típico de la medida (ETM) fue igual a 3,1 cmH₂O y el ETM% igual a 4.

Conclusión:

el Peritrón mostró elevada confiabilidad para medir la fuerza de los MAPs en hombres, tanto para la práctica clínica y para la producción del conocimiento científico. Cabe resaltar que tales medidas se realizaron en estabilidad, por lo que se sugiere que en consistencia interna su confiabilidad sea equivalente.

Palabras clave:
Estabilidad; Confiabilidad; Fuerza muscular; Piso pélvico

Introduction

The assessment of the strength of the pelvic floor muscles (MAPs) provides the perception of the contraction capacity of these muscles, however it is not an easy task and so far no study has been performed to verify the reliability of an instrument to measure contraction force of these muscles in men ¹. The contraction force of the MAPs may contribute to urinary continence, when there are sudden increases in intra-abdominal pressure, with increased urethral closure pressure and a decrease in the possibility of urinary loss ^1)-(3.

The assessment of the state of a muscle at rest and during maximal voluntary muscle contraction is necessary when re-training a muscle, which makes it possible to compare clinical data before and after an intervention with muscle exercises ⁴. The strength of the MAPs is important for evaluation, prescription and follow-up of programs aimed at restoring urinary continence resulting from radical prostatectomy ^5)-(8.

The evaluation of the strength of the MAPs by digital palpation, using the modified Oxford Scale, is the evaluation method most used by physiotherapists because it is costless and practical. However, scientifically, it is a questioned condition because the force of contraction is graded subjectively. In addition, the use of the Scale is appropriate only for women ^9)-(11.

An objective way to evaluate the strength of the MAPs with strong reliability is the perineometry performed from the measurement of the strength of these muscles with the Peritron (ICC = 0.95, 95% CI 0.88-0.98) because the pressure readings are a proxy measure of strength ^11),(12, which facilitates the prescription and evaluation of the efficacy of treatment to patients. However, the reliability of the measurement of the strength of the MAPs presented was from a study carried out with women and, after a review in the scientific databases MEDLINE, BVS, SciELO, Scirus and Redalyc, no Peritron reliability study for men was found.

In the absence of studies and given the need for a reliable instrument to evaluate the contraction force of the MAPs in men, the objective of this study was to verify the reliability, intra-examiner, of the measurement of the strength of the MAPs, performed with Peritron.

Methods

This study was developed in the Stricto Sensu Post-Graduation Program in Exercise and Sports Sciences of the State University of Rio de Janeiro, UERJ, RJ-Brazil, in the Pelvic Physiotherapy sector of the Urology Outpatient Clinic of the Federal Hospital of Rio de Janeiro (HFSE), drafted in accordance with the Guidelines for Reporting Reliability and Agreement Studies (GRRAS) ¹³. All procedures followed the Brazilian guidelines and standards for research involving human beings set forth in Resolution 466 of December 12, 2012 from the National Council of Health ¹⁴ and its approval was given by the consubstantiated opinion of protocol nº 06436712.0.0000.5287.

Study design

This was a test and retest study to evaluate the intra-rater reliability of Peritron to measure the strength of MAPs in men.

Participants

Thirty-six male patients were included in the study; mean age was 65.3 ± 7.2 years, all of them with sphincteric UI consequent to retropubic radical prostatectomy surgery, with the maximum postoperative time of up to six months; who used 2 to 5 disposable protectors per day. Patients were excluded from the study when they presented symptoms of urinary tract infection; symptoms of lower urinary tract obstruction; anal fistula; previous radiotherapy; and when they did not undergo transurethral resection of the prostate.

The patients, after being referred from the HFSE Urology to the Pelvic Physiotherapy Clinic, underwent an assessment of the strength of the MAPs made by a physiotherapist specialized in Pelvic Physiotherapy, at the same time, in the same place and in the same environmental conditions. The physiotherapist underwent training to familiarize themselves with the strengths of the MAP with Peritron for two weeks, with the physiotherapist experienced in the use of the equipment.

MAP strength measuring instrument

The strength of the MAPs was measured by a Peritron brand perineometer (PFX 9300®, Cardio-Design Pty. Ltd, Baulkham Hills, Australia, 2153). Peritron is a perineum that measures anal pressure in centimeters of water (cmH₂O), indirectly quantifying the strength of the MAPs by means of a sensor connected to a portable microprocessor with a latex tube.

Procedures for measuring the strength of MAPs

Patients became familiarized with three contractions and after two or four days the first measurement of strength of the MAPs (test) with Peritron was performed. Two days later, the second measurement of MAP strength (retest) was performed. None of the participants underwent training of pelvic floor muscles prior to participating in the survey or between the two moments of MAP strength measurement. All were able to voluntarily contract and completely relax their MAPs.

The patient was placed in lateral decubitus with knees and hip flexed, naked from the waist down. The physiotherapist introduced the perineometer sensor into the anal canal with one hand and the other hand placed over the abdomen to control the concomitant contraction of this muscle with the MAPs. The anal pressure was then measured with a seamless medical grade silicone elastomer sensor. The sensor is connected to a portable microprocessor with a latex tube, allowing the measurement of the contraction pressure exerted by the pelvic floor musculature in centimeters of water (cmH₂O), thus quantifying the indirect force of the MAPs. The pressure gauge readings are a proxy measure of force ¹⁵. The instrument was calibrated to zero before each measurement. The anal sensor has not been inflated. According to the manufacturer, inflation is an optional feature that can reduce the sensitivity of the sensor response. Patients were instructed to perform three maximal muscle contractions of the pelvic floor with an interval of 30 seconds between them, as reported in a study by Barbosa et al. ¹² Hip and adductor hip contractions were discouraged, as was the Valsalva maneuver ^11),(15 The maximum value of the three contractions was recorded.

Statistical analysis

In order to analyze the intra-assay reliability of the Peritron perineometer, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the typical measurement error (TME) ¹⁶ were used. The Bland and Altman confidence limits were used for the exclusion of outliers. The data were analyzed in SPSS version 18.0 packages (SPSS Inc., USA) and Statistica 6.0 (StatSoft, USA).

Results

The deviations between test and retest were equal to 0.1 ± 6.5 cmH₂O, the Bland & Altman confidence limits were -12.7 to 13.0 cmH₂O. An outlier was excluded because it presented deviation equal to 28.3 cmH₂O (Figure 1). The first measure of MAP strength (test) was 83.8 ± 52.0 cmH₂O. The second measure of MAP strength (retest) was 84.5 ± 52.6 cmH₂O. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was 0.99; P = 0.0001. The typical measurement error (TME) was 3.1 cmH₂O and the TME % was equal to 4.

Figure 1
Bland & Altman confidence limits for MAPs strength measures with Peritron.

Discussion

The ICC equal 0.99; P = 0.0001, the TME equal 3.1 cmH₂O and the TME% equal 4 obtained in the present study showed a strong intra-rater reliability for the measurement of strength of the MAPs with the Peritron perineometer. Observing Figure 1, the minimum strength value of MAPs was 3.6 cmH₂O and maximum of 211.3 cmH₂O, both with a test and retest difference close to zero, showing that Peritron can be reliable in measuring both levels of high intensity strength of the MAPs.

The above-mentioned reliability of Peritron to measure the strength of MAPs is very important for both research and clinical care of patients. For both situations, the study design and the statistics used showed that both the researcher and the physiotherapist could use Peritron to obtain reliable results in the research and evaluation of patients.

The reliability obtained in the present study was previously replicated in another study with women, which evaluated the strength of the MAPs by vaginal pressure (ICC = 0.95, 95% CI 0.88-0.98) ^11),(17. In both situations, for both men and women, reliability was adequate for clinical practice, because in addition to being statistically significant (P = 0.0001), the ICC was higher than 0.93 and the TME less than 9%, cut-off points admitted as low risk to this practice ¹³. Analyzing the strength of evidence on the basis of a sample size of studies that tested the reliability of Peritron in women, (n = 20) ¹¹ and (n = 19) ¹⁷, this study stands out by having a higher sample size (n = 36).

The strength of the MAPs is one of the most important factors for continence, since fast and strong contractions of the MAPs result in the generation of adequate closure pressure in the proximal urethra, which maintains a higher pressure than in the bladder, thus preventing the loss of urine ¹⁸. The training of MAPs is defined as a program of repeated voluntary contractions of these muscles, taught and supervised by a health professional and is most commonly used as a physiotherapy treatment for women with stress urinary incontinence, but it is effective with all types of incontinence and is therefore recommended as a first line therapy ^19)-(21, which is no different for men after radical prostatectomy ²¹, since the mechanism of continence is also dependent on the strength of the MAPs to increase the pressure of urethral closure, preventing urinary loss.

There are other methods that evaluate the strength of the MAPs, those considered as procedures for measuring the ability of pelvic muscle contraction, such as vaginal palpation, a method widely used clinically, but questioned for being subjective ^22)-(24, the use of electromyography that measures the potential of action of the motor units that compose the muscle, but which has as a disadvantage beyond the high cost: the capture of the electric potential of muscles close to what is being evaluated - Crosstalk ^22),(25),(26, the ultrasound in which it can be visualized the contraction of the MAPs in the caudal skull direction by the movement of the pelvic organs, but the studies are controversial as to its use for the evaluation of the MAPs, besides its high cost ^27),(28 and the magnetic resonance that can also be used to evaluate it the strength of the MAPs, but also has the disadvantage of its high cost ²⁹. There are those that are related to the measurement of contraction, such as dynamometry that measures force in Newton (N) or kilogram-force (kgf), a method that would be ideal since it directly measures force, but so far the literature shows, besides studies in women only, the development of speculum dynamometers to collect their own studies which still limits clinical practice ^30)-(35.

The present study presented as limitations the non-achievement of intra-rater reliability and inter-rater in internal consistency and inter-rater in stability; sample size (n < 50); perineometry is a voluntary test.

Conclusion

From the results of the present study, Peritron showed a high reliability to measure the strength of MAPs in men, both for clinical practice and for the production of scientific knowledge. It should be noted that such measures were performed in stability, therefore, it is suggested that in internal consistency its reliability is equivalent. 14 [cited 2017 April 20]. Available from: https://tinyurl.com/yatq3pdd.

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  2018

History

• Received
  23 May 2017
• Accepted
  16 Feb 2018