Knowledge and Awareness About Pelvic Floor Health Among Young Fitness Enthusiasts in Central India

As women go through pregnancy and childbirth, the potential for injury and weakening of the pelvic floor muscles increases, often leading to myriad of pelvic floor disorders. This study was designed to assess the level of knowledge and awareness regarding pelvic floor muscle exercises and pelvic floor disorders among young women attending fitness centres in Central India, and to examine the associations between sociodemographic characteristics, physical activity levels, and pelvic floor symptom scores.

This cross-sectional study was conducted at multiple fitness centres in a tier-2 city and included 160 women aged 18-35 years engaged in regular fitness activities. The sample size was calculated using an expected prevalence of knowledge about pelvic floor exercises (92.5%) based on Goodridge et al. (2021), with a 95% confidence interval and 5% margin of error. Standardised tools-Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI-6), Colorectal-Anal Distress Inventory (CRAD-8), Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory and Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory Score (PFDI-20)-were used to measure distress levels. Descriptive statistics and inferential analyses were performed using SPSS.

Only 32.5% of women were aware of pelvic floor muscles, and 41.9% knew about pelvic floor disorders. Graduates and postgraduates showed significantly greater awareness (p < 0.05). Professionals and businesswomen had higher UDI-6 scores, indicating greater distress (p = 0.042). Moderate to heavy exercisers reported greater awareness but no significant difference in distress scores. Participants who did moderate and heavy amounts of exercise had higher mean PFDI-20 scores than those with sedentary lifestyles.

This study identified key areas for intervention, including targeted education, structured fitness programmes and occupational health initiatives. Implementing these recommendations can enhance pelvic floor health awareness and preventive practices, ultimately improving the quality of life for young women.