Electromyographic analysis of pelvic floor muscles during the execution of pelvic patterns of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation‐concept: An observational study

Objective To assess the effect of pelvic patterns of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF‐concept) on pelvic floor muscles (PFM) recruitment, as well as the electromyographic activity of muscles synergic to the pelvic floor in healthy women. Methods Observational study conducted with 31 women aged between 18 and 35 years, with mean age of 23.3 ± 3.2 (22.1–24.4). PFM activity was monitored by surface electromyography during the combination of isotonics technique of four pelvic patterns of PNF‐concept (i.e., anterior elevation, posterior depression, anterior depression, and posterior elevation). The electromyographic signal was analyzed using root mean square amplitude. Two‐way repeated measures analysis of variance was performed to analyze differences in PFM activity between types of contraction (i.e., concentric, isometric, and eccentric) and the four pelvic patterns. Results PFM activity did not differ among the four pelvic pattens. However, PFM activity was significantly different between the combination of isotonics technique and baseline, F(1.6, 48.2) = 71.5; p