Urinary Symptoms and Sexual Dysfunction in National Level Wheelchair Rugby Male Athletes With Spinal Cord Injury

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science
• Urology

Background:

• Spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts autonomic functions, impacting bladder and sexual health.
• Adaptive sports participation may enhance physiological function and relationship quality.
• Prevalence of bladder and sexual dysfunction in male wheelchair rugby (WCR) athletes with SCI was investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of bladder dysfunction in national-level male WCR athletes with SCI.
• To assess the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in national-level male WCR athletes with SCI.
• To explore the relationship between WCR participation duration and functional outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A self-reported questionnaire was administered to 69 male WCR athletes during national competitions.
• Participants provided sociodemographic, injury, and sport characteristic data.
• The Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score Short Form (NBSS-SF) and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) were utilized.

Main Results:

• Mean NBSS-SF scores indicated issues with incontinence, storage/voiding, and consequences.
• Athletes with over 10 years of WCR experience showed significantly better bladder function (p=0.036).
• IIEF scores revealed varying degrees of erectile, orgasmic, desire, and satisfaction issues, with lower scores in athletes <2 years experience.

Conclusions:

• Injury classification and completeness did not correlate with functional scores.
• Extended participation in WCR is linked to improved bladder function.
• Sustained engagement in adaptive sports like WCR may provide rehabilitative benefits for individuals with SCI.