Pelvic Floor Knowledge and Dysfunctions in Female Athletes: Impact of Demographics, Sport Profile, and Physical...

High-impact sports participation may exacerbate pelvic floor dysfunctions (PFDs), a condition already common among women, in the female athletic population. In this population, pelvic floor health knowledge (PFHK) is key to preventing dysfunctions and sustaining performance. It was hypothesized that PFHK and dysfunctions in female athletes would differ according to age, education level, marital status, sport type, years of sports participation, and physical activity level.

A total of 127 female athletes aged 16-40 years were recruited from various sports disciplines. Pelvic floor health knowledge (Pelvic Floor Health Knowledge Quiz), pelvic floor dysfunctions (Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20, PFDI-20), and physical activity levels (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form) were measured. The Mann-Whitney U test and Spearman correlation were used for statistical analysis.

The mean age of participants was 21.1 ± 5.3 years, with 10.2 ± 5.3 years of sports participation. While 91.3% correctly identified the pelvic floor location, awareness of pelvic floor muscle training was limited. Athletes > 20 years and those with bachelor's or postgraduate education had significantly higher pelvic floor health knowledge (p < 0.05). Sports participation (> 10 years) was associated with higher risk/etiology and total scores (p < 0.05). PFDI-20 scores showed no significant correlations with demographic or sport-related variables (p > 0.05).

While female athletes identify the pelvic floor's location, their knowledge of its function and treatment remains limited; therefore, integrating targeted education into athletic programs is essential to mitigate dysfunction risks and optimize long-term performance.