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Abdominal muscle electrical activity during labor expulsive stage: a cross-sectional study
Belisa D R Oliveira1, Armèle Dornelas de Andrade, Andréa Lemos
1Physical Therapy Department, Faculdade Integrada do Recife, Recife, PE, Brazil. belisaduarte@yahoo.com.br
Revista Brasileira De Fisioterapia (Sao Carlos (Sao Paulo, Brazil))
|October 28, 2011
Summary
Rectus abdominis diastasis may impact voluntary pushing during labor. This condition, along with other maternal and fetal factors, influences the second stage of labor progression.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Physiology
- Biomechanics
Background:
- The second stage of labor involves fetal expulsion, influenced by maternal and fetal factors.
- Voluntary maternal pushing is a key component of fetal expulsion during labor.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between maternal and fetal parameters and voluntary pushing during labor.
- To utilize surface electromyography (sEMG) to assess muscle activity during the expulsive phase.
Main Methods:
- Measured rectus abdominis and external oblique muscle sEMG in 24 pregnant women during labor's second stage.
- Analyzed maternal parameters: rectus abdominis diastasis, BMI, fundal height.
- Assessed fetal parameters: weight, cephalic circumference, APGAR, arterial pH/CO2; also noted oxytocin use and expulsive phase duration.
Main Results:
- Found a negative correlation between rectus abdominis diastasis and its muscle's sEMG activity (r=-0.407, p=0.04).
- No significant correlations were observed between other maternal/fetal parameters and muscle sEMG.
- No significant correlations found regarding expulsive phase duration or oxytocin usage.
Conclusions:
- Rectus abdominis diastasis may influence voluntary pushing strength in labor.
- While diastasis recti is a potential factor, it is not the sole determinant of successful labor progression.
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