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To determine whether activity of the pelvic floor (PF) and abdominal muscles differs between continent and incontinent women in response to a postural perturbation with a moderately full or empty bladder.

Electromyographic (EMG) activity of the PF and abdominal muscles was recorded with surface electrodes prior to and after a postural perturbation in which a 1 kg weight was dropped 30 cm into a bucket held by the subject. Perturbations were applied to the trunk in trials in which the timing of the weight drop was unknown (unexpected) or predictable (expected). Trials were performed with the bladder empty, and when the subject reported a sensation of moderate bladder fullness after drinking between 200 and 1,000 ml of water.

Women with incontinence demonstrated increased PF EMG compared to continent women both prior to and during the postural response associated with …