Original Clinical Article

Pelvic floor electromyography in men with chronic pelvic pain syndrome: A case-control study

  1. Diane C. Hetrick1,
  2. Howard Glazer3,*,
  3. Yung-Wen Liu2,
  4. Judith A. Turner2,
  5. Margaret Frest1,
  6. Richard E. Berger1

Article first published online: 15 SEP 2005

DOI: 10.1002/nau.20162

Issue

Neurourology and Urodynamics

Neurourology and Urodynamics

Volume 25, Issue 1, pages 46–49, January 2006

Additional Information

How to Cite

Hetrick, D. C., Glazer, H., Liu, Y.-W., Turner, J. A., Frest, M. and Berger, R. E. (2006), Pelvic floor electromyography in men with chronic pelvic pain syndrome: A case-control study. Neurourology and Urodynamics, 25: 46–49. doi: 10.1002/nau.20162

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Urology, Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle Washington

  2. 2

    Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington

  3. 3

    Departments of Psychiatry and Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill College of Medicine, Cornell University, New York, New York

*2166 Broadway #6D, New York, N.Y. 10024.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 20 DEC 2005
  2. Article first published online: 15 SEP 2005
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 25 MAY 2005
  4. Manuscript Received: 29 SEP 2004

Funded by

  • Paul G. Allen Foundation for Medical Research

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Keywords:

  • biofeedback;
  • chronic pelvic pain syndrome;
  • pelvic floor muscle;
  • prostate;
  • surface EMG

Abstract

Aims

The objectives of this study were (1) to identify differences between men with chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS), compared with pain-free men, in surface electromyography/biofeedback (sEMG/BFB) readings of pelvic floor muscles and (2) to determine which pelvic floor muscle sEMG readings may have differential diagnostic and treatment selection value by accurately predicting group membership, CPPS versus normal.

Methods

Twenty-one men with CPPS and 21 healthy men without pelvic pain underwent a standardized sEMG examination by a licensed physical therapist.

Results

On group difference measures men with CPPS showed significantly greater sEMG instability in preliminary resting baseline. Three sEMG measures reliably categorized CPPS versus normals with CPPS showing greater preliminary resting baseline hypertonicity and instability with lowered voluntary endurance contraction amplitude.

Conclusions

CPPS patients manifest pelvic floor muscle instability compared to normals. Prebaseline resting hypertonicity and instability along with endurance contraction weakness reliably predicts subject membership in the CPPS vs. normal group. Pelvic floor muscle sEMG may be a valuable screening tool to identify patients with CPPS who may benefit from therapies aimed at correcting pelvic floor muscle dysfunction. Neurourol. Urdynam. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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