Standard characteristics of functional state of the rectal obturator muscles obtained from neurophysiological examination

The objective was to evaluate standard neurophysiological characteristics of the external anal sphincter and pelvic floor muscles using electromyography interference pattern analysis.Materials and methods. Electromyography was performed in 33 volunteers without complaints of bowel incontinence or bowel evacuation disorders: 20 (60.6 %) men (mean age 57.3 ± 9.4 years) and 13 (39.4 %) women (mean age 55.3 ± 12.8 years). Intra-anal electrode registered cumulative values of contractile force of sphincter ani externum: background and voluntary bioelectrical activity (BEA). Integral values of mean and maximal BEA amplitude for the rectal obturator muscles at rest, for voluntary contraction, during straining, and with increased intra-abdominal pressure were calculated.Results. Standard values of BEA of the rectal obturator muscles were obtained. These values can be used for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of pelvic floor muscles function and in additional multicenter studies aimed at development of a unified algorithm of rectal obturator and pelvic floor muscles evaluation.