Investigation of Pelvic Floor Muscle Strength in Low Back Pain

It was done with a manual perinometer. A manometer measuring between 0 and 25 mbar was used. The manometer is connected to the vaginal probe by a plastic, hollow, 75 cm long tube. The diameter of the vaginal probe is 3.5 cm and the length is 15 cm. The vaginal probe is inserted intravaginally to a depth of 5-10 cm. With the person in the supine position, with the knees flexed at 45 degrees, the measurement is made with a perineometer 3 times. For each measurement, the vaginal probe is removed and reinserted intravaginally. Each measurement starts when the indicator part on the manometer is 0 mbar and the patient is asked to tighten the pelvic floor muscles maximally. The average of the three measurements gives the mean pelvic floor muscle strength value.

First published in 1983 and reviewed in 2000, the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire(RMDQ) is designed to assess self-rated physical disability caused by low back pain.There are different questionnaires available, which differ from each other in the number of statements: 24-, 18- and 11-item questionnaires. The score ranges from 0 (no disability) to 24 (max. disability) depending on the questionnaire used.

On a 10-centimeter ruler drawn from zero to ten, the individual is asked to mark the most severe pain they have experienced in the last 24 hours. Values of 1-2-3 describe mild pain, values of 4-5-6 describe moderate pain, and 7-8-9-10 describe severe pain.