The acute effect of straining on pelvic floor neurological function

Abstract

Integrity of sensory and motor function is essential in the maintenance of continence. The pudendal nerve assumes a central role being a mixed sensory and motor nerve. Neuropathic changes may therefore lead to incontinence and stretch injury to the pudendal nerve has been implicated as an aetiological factor. However pudendal neuropathy, altered anal sensation and perineal descent do not always correlate in the same patient. To investigate this further we evaluated the effect of a simulated defaecation strain on pelvic floor neurological function in a group of patients with constipation and incontinence. Pudendal nerve terminal motor latency (PNTML) and anal electrosensitivity (AS) were meas..