Pelvic floor muscle surface electromyography. Reliability and clinical predictive validity.

OBJECTIVE: To study the reliability and clinical predictive validity of pelvic floor muscle surface electromyography (sEMG) for use in early detection and prophylaxis of urogynecologic disorders.

STUDY DESIGN: Fifty-seven women ranging from 19 to 69 years of age completed a written questionnaire and underwent digital pelvic examination followed by pelvic floor muscle sEMG using an intravaginal sensor. Thirty-seven subjects underwent repeat evaluations one week or more later.

RESULTS: sEMG data demonstrated significant test-retest reliability (P < .001) and significant clinical predictive validity (P < .05) for undifferentiated urinary incontinence, stress incontinence, urge incontinence, menstrual status and parity on both initial and repeat examinations.

CONCLUSIONS: Pelvic floor muscle sEMG is reliable and consistently predictive of several important clinical status variables, suggesting that it can be a useful tool in early at-risk detection and prophylactic intervention for disorders of pelvic floor muscle laxity. Recent advances in sEMG technology make it cost-effective, convenient, noninvasive and easy to learn and administer by assisting staff. This technology is a powerful complementary tool for digital assessment of pelvic floor muscles and should be considered for use in gynecologic practice.