Oxford Grading Scale vs manometer for assessment of pelvic floor strength in nulliparous sports students

Abstract

Objectives To compare pelvic floor muscle strength in nulliparous sports students measured using the modified Oxford Grading Scale and a Peritron manometer; and to compare the manometric measurements between continent and incontinent subjects.Design Cross-sectional study. All subjects were evaluated twice on the same day; first by vaginal digital examination and subsequently by vaginal pressure using a Peritron manometer.Participants Forty-three nulliparous female sports students [mean age 21 (standard deviation 4) years] from the Sports Faculty of the University of Porto.Results This study found a significant moderate correlation between the Oxford Grading Scale score and peak pressure on manometry (r = 0.646, P = 0.002). Mean maximal strength for the entire group was 70.4 cmH(2)O (range 21 to 115 cmH(2)O). Out of 43 subjects, 37% (n = 16) demonstrated signs of incontinence. On manometry, no significant differences were found in vaginal resting pressure or peak pressure between the continent and incontinent groups.Conclusions There was moderate correlation between peak pressure on manometry and the Oxford Grading Scale score. Peritron manometer measurements of pelvic floor muscle contractions showed no significant differences in vaginal resting pressure and peak pressure in continent and incontinent subjects. (C) 2012 Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.