Perineal Muscle Strength During Pregnancy And Postpartum: The Correlation Between Perineometry And Digital Vaginal Palpation [avaliação Da Força Muscular Perineal Durante A Gestação E Pós-parto: Correlação Entre Perineometria E Palpação Digital Vaginal]

Digital vaginal palpation performed during clinical practice can help diagnose urinary, intestinal and sexual disorders, while perineometry is more useful for performing perineal exercises with biofeedback. This study verifies whether there is a correlation between values of Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength (PFMS) obtained through perineometry performed with an electronic perineometer and through digital vaginal palpation using the Oxford scale. This is a prospective cohort study with 330 measurements carried out in 110 women. Data were collected from 2007 to 2008 in the health service system in Itapecerica da Serra, São Paulo, Brazil. Evaluations were carried out at three points in time: up to 12 weeks of pregnancy; between 36-40 weeks; and between 42-60 days postpartum. The Spearman coefficient indicated a strong positive correlation between the two evaluation methods for the three evaluations (p<0.0001). The conclusion is that both methods are valid for measuring PFMS during pregnancy and after delivery.18611381144Glazener, C.M.A., Cooper, K., Anterior vaginal repair for urinary incontinence in women (Cochrane Review) (2003) The Cochrane Library, , Issue 3, 2003. Oxford: UpdateDiagnostic investigation of the pelvic floor: A helpful tool in the approach in patients with complaints of micturition, defecation, and/or sexual dysfunction (2008) J Sex Med, 5 (4), pp. 864-871Norton, C., Hosker, G., Brazzelli, M., Biofeedback and/or sphincter exercises for the treatment of faecal incontinence in adults (Cochrane Review) (2003) The Cochrane Library, (3), p. 2003. , Oxford: UpdateBrubaker, L., Handa, V.L., Bradley, C.S., Connolly, A., Moalli, P., Brow, M.B., Sexual function 6 months after first delivery (2008) Obstet Gynecol, 111 (5), pp. 1040-1044Coletti, S.H., Haddad, J.M., Barros, J.P.F., (2005) Avaliação Funcional Do Assoalho Pélvico, pp. 67-75. , In: Amaro JL, Haddad JM, Trindade JCS, Ribeiro RM, São Paulo (SP): Segmento FarmaZanetti, M.R.D., Castro, R.A., Rotta, A.L., Santos, P.D., Sartori, M., Girão, M.J.B.C., Impacto of supervised physiotherapeutic pelvic floor exercises for treating female stress urinary incontinence (2007) Sao Paulo Med J, 125 (5), pp. 265-269Örnö, A.K., Marsál, K., Herbst, A., Ultrasonographic anatomy of perineal structures during pregnancy and immediately following obstetric injury (2008) Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol, 32 (4), pp. 527-534Braekken, I.H., Majida, M., Engh, M.E., Bo, K., Test-retest reliability of pelvic floor muscle contraction measured by 4D ultrasound (2009) Neurourol Urodyn, 28 (1), pp. 68-73Castro, R.A., Arruda, R.M., Zanetti, R.D., Santos, P.D., Sartori, M.G.F., Girão, M.J.B.C., Single-blind, randomized, controlled trial of pelvic floor muscle training, electrical stimulation, vaginal cones, and no active treatment in the management of stress urinary incontinence (2008) Clinics, 63 (4), pp. 465-472Fitzpatrick, M., O'Herlihy, C., The effects of labour and delivery on the pelvic floor (2001) Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol, 15 (1), pp. 63-79Barbosa, A.M.P., Carvalho, L.R., Martins, A.M.V.C., Calderon, I.M.P., Rudge, M.V.C., Efeito da via de parto sobre a força muscular do assoalho pélvico (2005) Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet, 27 (11), pp. 677-682Menta, S.S., Schirmer, J., Relação entre a pressão muscular perineal no puerpério e o tipo de parto (2006) Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet, 28 (9), pp. 523-529Oliveira, C., Lopes, M.A.B., Longo Pereira, L.C.L., Zugaib, M., Effects of pelvic floor muscle training during pregnancy (2007) Clinics, 62 (4), pp. 439-446Stephenson, R.G., O'Connor, L.J., (2004) Fisioterapia E Pacientes Do Sexo Feminino: Avaliação E Tratamento, pp. 65-150. , In: Stephenson RG, O'Connor LJ, 9a ed. Barueri (SP): ManoleBo, K., Finckenhagen, H.B., Vaginal palpation of pelvic floor muscle strength: Inter-test reproducibility and comparison between palpation and vaginal squeeze pressure (2001) Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand, 80 (10), pp. 883-887Hulley, S.B., Cummings, S.R., Designing clinical research (1988) Baltimore (MD): Williams & WilkinsBo, K., Larsen, S., Kvarstein, B., Hagen, R.H., Classification and characterization of responders to pelvic floor muscle exercise for female stress urinary incontinence (1990) Neurourol Urodyn, 9 (4), pp. 395-397Nagib, A.B.L., Guirro, E.C.O., Palauro, V.A., Guirro, R.R.J., Avaliação da sinergia da musculatura abdomino-pélvica em nulíparas com eletromiografia e biofeedback perineal (2005) Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet, 27 (4), pp. 210-215Higa, R., Lopes, M.H.B.M., Turato, E.R., Significados psicoculturais da incontinência urinária feminina? Uma revisão (2008) Rev. Latino-Am. Enfermagem, 16 (4), pp. 779-786. , ISSN 0104-1169. doi: 10.1590/S0104-1169200800040002