• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers P
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• v.64 no.3
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• pp.175-181
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• 2015

In this paper, the neuromuscular electrical stimulation medical devices for non-implantable incontinence treatment other than vaginal insertion type was developed and commercialized. The structure of medical devices for electrical stimulation based on the anatomy of the pelvic floor muscle designed. Then, the optimum parameters that may be effective in pelvic floor muscle electrical stimulation was set. The circuit system based on the optimum parameters were designed and manufactured. The frequency of the pulse voltage for electrical stimulation is 75[Hz], the pulse width is 300[${\mu}s$], the development of medical devices was to have seven program functions to the various treatments. The circuit system of medical devices was composed of microcontroller, comparator and converter. The performance of the developed circuit system in KTC(Korea Testing Certification) were carried out medical equipment inspection test. Test results, test specifications were satisfied with the medical device, the performance was verified to be commercialized as a medical device. The development of medical devices were validated risk assessment and product performance through a software validation. Commercialization of medical equipment was acquired to enable the certification standards of the international standard IEC 60601-1.

• Journal of IKEEE
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2008

Pelvic floor muscle is the main subsystem that maintains urinary continence. It is possible to diagnose the degree of the stress urinary incontinence(SUI) by evaluating the contraction pressure of the pelvic floor muscle. Bio-signal measurement system was developed to measure the contraction pressure. Diagnostic parameters were drawn out by analyzing the measured data. Statistical evaluations were done to classify the all subjects with five groups each has similar characteristics. SUI diagnostic algorithm was implemented to each group separately. The accuracy of the algorithm was about 78.9% and utility was confirmed by clinical trial.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.696-703
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• 2008

Purpose: To Perform a randomized comparative study investigating the effects of Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercise(PME) and Magnetic Stimulation Therapy(MST) and to identified the problems in each of PME & MST Method: Forty-nine patients with mild stress incontinence were randomly assigned to either of two treatment groups (24 patients in the PME group and 25 in the MST group). The PME group had a video exercising program for 40 times every day during 6 weeks. The MST group was treated with BioCon-2000TM, 2times/ week for six weeks. Pre-test and post-test were performed by Prineometer, 1-hour pad test. and Jackson's BFLUTS questionnaire of Jackson. Collected data were analysed using SAS 9.1 by frequency, Kolmogorov-Smirnov Z. Chi Square-test, t-test, Fisher Exact probability test, Paired t-test, and Wilcoxon's rank sum test. Results: In comparison between before and after PME and MST, statistically significant difference was observed in maximal vaginal pressure, duration of vaginal contraction, amount of urine, and symptom of urination. In the comparison of the effectiveness between PME & MST, only the maximal of vaginal pressure (Z=2.58, p= .010) was significantly different. Conclusion: The factor more effective in the MST group than in the PME group was high compliance.

• Journal of rehabilitation welfare engineering & assistive technology
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.13-19
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• 2007

In this study, diagnostic algorithm was suggested to diagnose quantitatively the degree of the stress urinary incontinence. The bio-signal measurement system was developed to measure the contraction pressure of the pelvic floor muscle and diagnostic parameters were drawn out by analyzing the contraction pressure data. Statistical evaluations were done to classify the diagnositc parameters by order that relationship is high. The diagnostic algorithm that was able to diagnose degree of the urinary incontinence as quantitatively was realized from the high relationship parameters.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.466-473
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• 2007

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify effects of pelvic floor muscle exercise on sexual function and to present basic information on promoting sexual function for employed middle-aged women. Method: Data were collected from July to September, 2005 from a sample of 25 conveniently selected middle-aged working women from B city. For personal reasons, 10 dropped out, leaving 15 women who were treated with the exercise for 6 weeks. Outcome measures on sexual function were assessed by a self-report questionnaire based on the Female Sexual Function Index(Rosen et al, 2000 and translated by Kim, 2004). Cronbach ${\alpha}'s $ for the two studies were .82 and .96 respectively and for this study, .81. Descriptive statistics and Wilcoxon signed rank test were used to analyze the data. Results: The mean score for sexual function was 21.42(range 2-36). There were significant improvements in total sexual function, and 4 sub-scales of sexual function, sexual arousal, vaginal lubrication, orgasm, and coital pain. No significant improvements in sexual desire or sexual satisfaction were found. Conclusion: The small sample means findings must be interpreted with caution, but do suggest that pelvic floor muscle exercise could be an effective exercise for improvement of sexual function.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.209-214
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• 2020

Objective: Using biofeedback in instructing pelvic floor muscle (PFM) activation is a great method to provide information on muscle contraction. This study aimed to determine the immediate effectiveness of a mobile game-based instruction with an extracorporeal biofeedback device (EBD) to improve PFM contraction in healthy subjects. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: Sixteen healthy subjects (4 men and 12 nulliparous women; age, 31±5 years) were enrolled. The subjects were randomly categorized into two groups, those who were to receive instructions on how to contract the PFM by using the EBD (n=7) and those who were to undergo a transabdominal ultrasonography (TAUS; n=9) with biofeedback. PFM function was measured as the displacement (mm) of PFM elevation by using the TAUS before and after the instructions in each group. Results: The EBD and TAUS groups showed a significant increase in the displacement of PFM elevation after the instructions from 5.93±4.03 mm to 7.62±3.77 mm and from 5.27±3.39 mm to 7.47±2.79 mm, respectively (p<0.05). No significant differences were found between the two groups. Conclusions: The results of this study indicated that instructions for PFM contraction using the EBD and TAUS showed an immediate effect; however, no significant difference in effectiveness was observed between the two instruction methods. Therefore, not only can the TAUS method be used but the EBD method can also be used as a PFM instruction method for noninvasive procedures. However, further studies are needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of training and exercise on larger sample sizes that includes patient populations with PFM dysfunction.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.35 no.8
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• pp.1476-1484
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• 2005

Purpose. The purposes of this study were to examine the effectiveness of a behavioral intervention program combining pelvic floor muscle exercise with bladder training for urinary incontinence and also to conduct follow-up assessment after self-training. Methods. This study was conducted using a non-equivalent control group, pretest-posttest design. The subjects were 60 middle-aged women(control group, n=30; intervention group, n=30) who experienced an episode of urinary incontinence at least once a week. The program was run over a 4 week period (once a week) and composed of urinary incontinence education, pelvic floor muscle exercise, and bladder training. Results. Overall, there was a significant difference in urinary incontinence symptoms and psycho-social well-being related to urinary incontinence between the treatment and control group. Of the variables, weekly leakage frequencies, leakage amounts on each occasion, leakage index, frequencies of nocturia, and quality of life were significantly different between the groups. Follow-up assessment (9th week) indicated that overall incontinence symptoms and psycho-social well-being were significantly different between the posttest and follow-up assessments. Most variables of incontinence symptoms and psycho-social well-being were significantly improved at follow-up assessment versus posttest. Conclusions. The program was voerall effective in terms of relieving symptoms and improving psych-social well-being related to urinary incontinence, and this effect continued after a 4-weeks self-training period. In the respect that this is a community-based application study, the results can be meaningful and applicable.

• Physical Therapy Rehabilitation Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.103-107
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• 2015

Objective: Pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) form the base of the abdomino-pelvic cavity and also the PFMs function is important for urinary continence. PFMs training (PFMT) is considered to be the first method for PFM dysfunction. This study demonstrated correct PFMs contraction among commonly used different contraction methods for PFMT. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: In this study, nineteen middle-aged (40-70 years) women participated. To evaluate PFM function, ultrasonography was used to measure the distance of the bladder base movement. The distance of the PFM movements were calculated at rest and during the other contractions. The following four different contraction methods were performed randomly: (1) PFM contraction, (2) abdominal drawing-in maneuver (ADIM), (3) anal contraction, and (4) hip adductor muscle contraction. The participants held the contraction for 3 seconds for a total of 3 times with a 30 seconds rest period between each trial. The mean of three measurements in each position were obtained and compared with that in the resting position. Results: The bladder base movement values were significantly greater when comparing PFM with ADIM and hip adductor contractions (p<0.05). The bladder base movement values were significantly greater when comparing ADIM and anal contractions with hip adductor contractions (p<0.05). Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that performing PFM contractions is the best method among the common methods for PFMT. Performing PFM contractions was more effective than the other contraction methods.

• PNF and Movement
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2015

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of abdominal muscle contraction thickness using real-time ultrasound imaging while applying an abdominal draw-in maneuver (ADIM) and pelvic floor muscle contraction (PFC) to low back pain patients and healthy subjects. Methods: The subjects were 21 young adults; a group of 10 low back pain patients and a control group of 11 healthy subjects. Measurements were made with the subjects on a pillow in a supine position, with the knee joints flexed at 60 degrees. While the two groups conducted ADIM and PFC, their transverse abdominal muscle (TrA), internal abdominal oblique muscle (IO), and external abdominal oblique muscle (EO) thicknesses were measured using an ultrasound imaging system. Result: The TrA muscle contraction thickness ratio during PFC and ADIM was significantly lower in the low back pain group than in the healthy group (p<0.05). The EO muscle contraction thickness ratio during ADIM was also significantly lower in the low back pain group than in the healthy group. The healthy group's muscle contraction thickness ratio was significantly lower during PFC than during ADIM in the TrA, IO, and EO (p<0.05). The low back pain group's muscle contraction thickness ratio was lower during PFC than during ADIM in the TrA, IO, and EO, but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that oral direction during ADIM induced an appropriate contraction of the TrA. Therefore, the procedure reported here may be applied during rehabilitation for appropriate contraction of the TrA.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.267-273
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• 2000

The 30 percent or more women who have urinary incontinence have some problem in contraction of perineal muscles. In fact. to increase the strength of perineal muscles, voluntary muscle contraction is more effective than electrical contraction. Electrical stimulation or bio feedback therapy is safe and effective therapy for Patients who have complex urinary incontinence. because these therapies can solve the problems of the voluntary perineal muscle contraction these therapies can help women to know to contract the perineal muscles effectively. The combined therapy ie. Electrical stimulation and bio feedback therapy with pelvic muscle training program or bladder drill can be considered as good treatment method. Pelvic floor muscle exercise is importance to make patient itself participate by making to be interested about exercise and by tacking motivations at therapy to themselves.