Evaluation of the electromyography activity of pelvic floor muscle during postural exercises using virtual video games Wii Fit Plus©. Analysis and perspectives in rehabilitation

Introduction. - The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of postural awareness by using the Wii Fit Plus (c) on the quality of the baseline (automatic) activity of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) measured by intravaginal surface electromyography (sEMG). Methods. - Four healthy continent female subjects, all able to perform a voluntary contraction, undertook 2 sets of 3 various exercises offered by the software Wii Fit Plus using the Wii balance board (c) (WBB): one set without any visual control and the second set with postural control and sEMG visual feedback. Simultaneously, we recorded the sEMG activity of the PFM. Results. - Mean baseline activity of PFM in standing position at start was 2.87 mV, at submaximal voluntary contraction the sEMG activity raised at a mean of 14.43 mV (7.87-21.89). In the first set of exercises on the WBB without any visual feedback, the automatic activity of the PFM increased from 2.87 mV to 8.75 mV (7.96-9.59). In the second set, with visual postural and sEMG control, mean baseline sEMG activity even raised at 11.39 mV (10.17-11.58). Conclusion. - Among women able of a voluntary contraction of PFM, visualisation of posture with the help of the WBB and of sEMG activity of the PFM during static and dynamic Wii Fit Plus activities, may improve the automatic activation of the PFMs. (C) 2014 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.