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Related Experiment Videos

Urinary incontinence, pelvic floor dysfunction, exercise and sport.

Kari Bø1

  • 1The Norwegian University of Sport and Physical Education, Oslo. kari.bo@nih.no

Sports Medicine (Auckland, N.Z.)
|July 6, 2004
PubMed
Summary

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) affects many women, particularly elite athletes, hindering sports participation. Pelvic floor muscle training shows promise for SUI treatment in female athletes, though more research is needed.

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Area of Science:

  • Urology
  • Sports Medicine
  • Women's Health

Background:

  • Urinary incontinence (UI), involuntary urine leakage, affects 10-55% of women aged 15-64.
  • Stress urinary incontinence (SUI), leakage during exertion, is the most common UI type in women.
  • SUI can be a significant barrier to women's participation in sports and fitness activities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review literature on UI and sports participation in female elite athletes.
  • To emphasize the prevalence and treatment of SUI in this population.
  • To identify research gaps regarding SUI management in female athletes.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic literature review.
  • Focus on prevalence data in elite female athletes across various sports.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Examination of current and potential SUI treatment strategies.

    • Main Results:

    • SUI prevalence in young, nulliparous elite athletes ranges from 0% (golf) to 80% (trampolinists).
    • High-impact sports like gymnastics and track and field show higher SUI prevalence.
    • No randomized controlled trials (RCTs) exist for SUI treatment in female elite athletes, but pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) is effective in the general population.

    Conclusions:

    • SUI poses a threat to female athletes' health, self-esteem, and well-being.
    • A strong pelvic floor is crucial for counteracting increased abdominal pressure during high-impact activities.
    • Further research is essential on pelvic floor muscle function and PFMT efficacy in elite female athletes.