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The urine stream interruption test and pelvic muscle function in the puerperium
Author(s) -
Sartore A.,
Pregazzi R.,
Bortoli P.,
Grimaldi E.,
Ricci G.,
Guaschino S.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1016/s0020-7292(02)00193-5
Subject(s) - medicine , pelvic floor muscle , test (biology) , rehabilitation , vaginal delivery , pelvic floor , urine , significant difference , urinary incontinence , exact test , gynecology , urology , physical therapy , surgery , pregnancy , paleontology , genetics , biology
Objectives: This study assesses the role of the uroflowmetric urine stream interruption test (UST) in the evaluation of postpartum pelvic floor muscle function. Method: Two months after vaginal delivery, 492 women who underwent a digital test, vaginal manometry, and a UST were divided into two groups: continent and incontinent. Variables were subjected to the Student's t ‐test and to Fisher's exact test to verify the difference between the two groups. Results: Digital test and vaginal manometry results were higher in the continent group, but only the UST showed significantly different values ( P =0.001). All test results of incontinent puerperae who underwent rehabilitation were significantly improved after treatment. Conclusions: UST is low cost, non‐invasive, and can give objective information about pelvic floor performance after a vaginal delivery. It can be used for both routine clinical use and an outcome measure for women who undergo rehabilitation treatment.