Assessing Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms in Women Practising Competitive Judo: Findings from a Cross-sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Sports Medicine
• Pelvic Floor Health

Background:

• High-impact physical activity (PA) in sportswomen can increase the risk of stress urinary incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction.
• Assessing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in athletes is crucial for understanding sport-specific risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the occurrence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in professional female judo practitioners.
• To compare LUTS prevalence in judo athletes versus those in other sports disciplines.

Main Methods:

• An observational, cross-sectional study involving 88 professional female judo practitioners and 88 controls.
• Participants completed the Core Lower Urinary Tract Symptom Score (CLSS) questionnaire, sport-related data questionnaires, and self-reported anthropometric measures.

Main Results:

• 19.31% of judo athletes reported no LUTS; 67.6% reported one or two symptoms.
• Judo athletes showed a statistically significant lower average number of LUTS (p < 0.001) and lower severity for nocturia, incomplete bladder emptying, and urethral pain.
• Overall CLSS scores were significantly lower in judo athletes (p < 0.001), with higher satisfaction regarding their lower urinary tract condition (p < 0.01).

Conclusions:

• Competitive judo is not associated with an increased risk of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in female athletes.
• Female judo practitioners report a high level of health satisfaction concerning their lower urinary tract condition.
• Judo may not pose the same risk for LUTS as other high-impact sports, suggesting potential protective factors or different biomechanical stresses.