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Ultrasound Characteristics of Trunk Muscles in Postpartum Women, and Their Correlation with Symptoms of Stress
Yiyi Zheng1, Xiaoqi Dai2, Haojie Zhang1
1The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People's Republic of China.
Purpose:
The aim of this cross-sectional study was to compare the ultrasound characteristics of the trunk muscles in postpartum women with or without stress urinary incontinence (SUI), and to determine correlations between the trunk muscle thickness and the urinary incontinence symptoms.
Methods:
In 60 individuals, musculoskeletal ultrasound was used to measure the right-diaphragm thickness (at end-inspiration/end-expiration), diaphragm thickness change, rectus abdominis diastasis (RAD), and the thickness of rectus abdominis (RA), transversus abdominis (TrA) and lumbar multifidus (LM). The symptoms of urinary incontinence (SUI) were assessed by the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form (ICIQ-SF).
Results:
Compared to the control group, the postpartum SUI (PSUI) group demonstrated a significant reduction in right-diaphragm thickness at both end-inspiration and end-expiration (p < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in diaphragm thickness change, RAD, and the thickness of RA, TrA, and LM between the two groups (p > 0.05). In the PSUI group, the right diaphragm thickness at end-inspiration was negatively correlated with the severity of SUI symptoms as measured by the ICIQ-SF. A negative correlation was also detected between diaphragm thickness change and the severity of SUI symptoms in the ICIQ-SF.
Conclusion:
Postpartum women with PSUI had decreased diaphragm thickness (at end-inspiration and end-expiration) when compared to those without SUI. A negative correlation was observed between diaphragm thickness and SUI. These findings could serve as a theoretical basis for the potential role of coordinated diaphragm and pelvic floor muscle training in postpartum women with SUI, as well as for the prevention of SUI.
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