RESUMO
Urinary incontinence (UI) in female athletes can impair their quality-of-life (QoL) and reduce their participation in sports. This review aims to evaluate the effect of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) in treating UI in women participating in high-impact sports. Furthermore, to assess the influence of PFMT on pelvic floor muscles (PFM) function and the UI impact on their QoL. For this purpose, a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs was performed. An electronic search was conducted on PubMed, EMBASE, SciELO, and Scopus. The quality of evidence was assessed using the PEDro and ROBINS-I scales. The Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT) was used to assess the quality of PFMT protocols. All studies were available in full-text including incontinent female participants who are practitioners of high-impact sports, investigating PFMT vs control groups(inactive) or undergoing other treatments. Three RCTs and two non-RCTs (104 participants) were analyzed. PFMT provided a significant improvement in UI symptoms with a reduction in the frequency (n=3) and the amount of UI (n=5). PFM function was assessed in three studies, and two found improvement in maximal contraction and one in vaginal resting pressure in favor of PFMT. None of the two studies that assessed QoL found a difference after PFMT intervention.
Assuntos
Esportes , Incontinência Urinária por Estresse , Incontinência Urinária , Feminino , Humanos , Diafragma da Pelve , Terapia por Exercício/métodos , Incontinência Urinária/terapia , Exercício Físico , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
AIMS: To compare the strength of abdominal and pelvic floor muscles (PFM) between nulliparous female athletes (FAs) and non-athletes (FNAs), to determine the frequency of urinary incontinence (UI) in these groups. METHODS: This cross-sectional comparative study of nulliparous women included 39 professional FAs, who competed at the district level or above, and 34 FNAs. Participants underwent pelvic floor and abdominal muscle assessments. PFM function and strength were assessed using the modified Oxford scale and a manometer (PERINA 996-2 QUARK). Abdominal muscle function and strength were assessed using a 4-Pro isokinetic dynamometer. The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form was used to assess UI symptoms among the athletes, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form was used to establish the level of physical activity among the non-athletes. RESULTS: The prevalence of UIs in the FAs was 53.8%, while that for FNAs was 35.3%. There was no association between being an athlete and having UI (p = 0.112). FAs were found to weigh more (p = 0.012) and have increased abdominal muscle strength (p = 0.014) and maximum voluntary PFM contraction as recorded by the manometer (p = 0.035), as well as a decreased PFM contraction endurance time (p = 0.025) than FNAs. CONCLUSION: FAs had stronger abdominal muscles and PFM contraction, as assessed by a manometer, but less PFM endurance when compared to FNAs. Despite these differences, the prevalence of UI was similar between groups.
Assuntos
Força Muscular , Diafragma da Pelve , Incontinência Urinária , Atletas , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Humanos , Contração Muscular , Incontinência Urinária/epidemiologiaRESUMO
INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Studies have shown that there is a co-contraction between the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles. This study aimed to evaluate pelvic floor and abdominal muscle function in continent and incontinent female athletes and to investigate the association between these muscle groups. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study. Forty nulliparous professional female athletes who competed at the municipal level or above participated in this study. All participants underwent a pelvic floor muscle (PFM) and abdominal muscle assessment. PFM function and strength were assessed using the modified Oxford Scale and a perineometer. Abdominal muscle function and strength were assessed using a 4-Pro isokinetic dynamometer. To assess athletes' urinary continence, the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short-Form (ICIQ-UI-SF) was used. RESULTS: There was a positive association between PFM and abdominal muscle strength among the incontinent athletes (p = 0.006; r = 0.577). The incontinent athletes had greater PFM strength than the continent athletes (p = 0.02). There was no difference in abdominal muscle function between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: We found that incontinent athletes have greater PFM strength than continent athletes. This suggests that urinary incontinence in this population is not due to PFM weakness. The positive association between abdominal and PFM strengths in incontinent athletes may be due to frequent co-contraction between these muscle groups.