The Influence of Pelvic Muscle Activation During Vaginal Delivery

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2010

Authors

parente, mp (Author) FEUP; jorge, rmn (Author) FEUP; mascarenhas, t (Author) FMUP; silva, al (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Obstetrics and Gynecology

Vol. 115

Pages: 804-808

ISSN: 0029-7844

Publisher: Wolters Kluwer Health

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 26 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 29 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Clinical medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-003-82G

DOI: 10.1097/aog.0b013e3181d534cd

Abstract (EN): OBJECTIVE: To estimate the influence of pelvic floor muscle activation during vaginal delivery using a three-dimensional computational finite element model. METHODS: A computational finite element model of the pelvic skeletal structure, pelvic floor, and fetus was developed. The movements of the fetus during birth, in vertex position, were simulated; namely, the engagement, descent, flexion, internal rotation, and extension of the fetal head. The opposite forces against the fetal descent and the stress on the pelvic floor muscles were obtained in passive, 5%, 10%, and 15% pelvic floor muscle simulated activations. RESULTS: The increase in pelvic floor muscle activation was associated with higher values of forces against the fetal descent. The descending fetus encountered increasing resistance in higher stations with the increase in pelvic floor muscle activation. The maximum values of stress of the pelvic floor muscles were obtained in +4 station. The increase in pelvic floor muscle activation was also followed by higher values of pelvic floor stress. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates the feasibility of using a computational modeling approach to study parturition. This experimental evidence suggests that the pelvic floor muscle activation during vaginal delivery may represent an obstacle to fetal descent and increase the risk for pelvic floor injuries. (Obstet Gynecol 2010;115:804-8)

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

Notes: doi: 10.1097/AOG.0b013e3181d534cd

No. of pages: 5