Childhood Stress Urinary Incontinence in High-Impact Gymnasts: Does it Affect Their Future Risk of Adult Stress...

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Sports Medicine
• Women's Health

Background:

• Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is prevalent in high-impact athletes.
• Childhood high-impact activities, like gymnastics, may contribute to SUI.
• The long-term impact of childhood SUI on adult SUI is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if SUI experienced during pre-adolescent gymnastics training predicts adult SUI.
• To identify factors associated with SUI in former and current competitive gymnasts.

Main Methods:

• An observational cohort study surveyed 146 current and former competitive gymnasts (aged 18+).
• A custom survey assessed incontinence history before and after age 18.
• The Urogenital Distress Inventory (UDI-6) evaluated current voiding symptoms.

Main Results:

• Among gymnasts who experienced SUI under 18, 84.4% reported adult SUI.
• Gymnasts without childhood SUI had a 51.6% rate of adult SUI (p < 0.001).
• Childhood SUI and higher BMI were associated with increased UDI-6 scores.

Conclusions:

• Experiencing SUI during pre-adolescent gymnastics training is a significant predictor of adult SUI.
• Early recognition and management of SUI in young athletes are crucial for long-term well-being.
• This highlights the importance of addressing SUI in pediatric high-impact sports.