Biomechanical properties of the pelvic floor muscles of continent and incontinent women using an inverse finite element analysis

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2017

Authors

Silva, MET (Author) Other; Brandao, S (Author) Other; Parente, MPL (Author) FEUP; mascarenhas, t (Author) FMUP; Renato Natal Jorge (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering

Vol. 20 No. 6

Pages: 842-852

ISSN: 1025-5842

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 15 Citations

Scopus - 17 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00M-SFX

DOI: 10.1080/10255842.2017.1304542

Abstract (EN): Pelvic disorders can be associated with changes in the biomechanical properties in the muscle, ligaments and/or connective tissue form fascia and ligaments. In this sense, the study of their mechanical behavior is important to understand the structure and function of these biological soft tissues. The aim of this study was to establish the biomechanical properties of the pelvic floor muscles of continent and incontinent women, using an inverse finite element analysis (FEA). The numerical models, including the pubovisceral muscle and pelvic bones were built from magnetic resonance (MR) images acquired at rest. The numerical simulation of Valsalva maneuver was based on the finite element method and the material constants were determined for different constitutive models (Neo-Hookean, Mooney-Rivlin and Yeoh) using an iterative process. The material constants (MPa) for Neo-Hookean (c(1)) were 0.039 +/- 0.022 and 0.024 +/- 0.004 for continent vs. incontinent women. For Mooney-Rivlin (c(1)) the values obtained were 0.026 +/- 0.010 vs. 0.016 +/- 0.003, and for Yeoh (c(1)) the values obtained were 0.031 +/- 0.023 vs. 0.016 +/- 0.002, (p<0.05). Muscle displacements obtained in the numerical simulations of Valsalva maneuver were compared with the muscle displacements obtained through additional dynamic MRI. Incontinent women presented a higher antero-posterior displacement than the continent women. The results were also similar between MRI and numerical simulations (40.27% vs. 42.17% for Neo-Hookean, 39.87% for Mooney-Rivlin and 41.61% for Yeoh). Using an inverse FEA coupled with MR images allowed to obtain the in vivo biomechanical properties of the pelvic floor muscles, leading to a relationship between them for the continent and incontinent women in a non-invasive manner.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11