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Observational Study
. 2021 Dec;24(12):1211-1217.
doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2021.06.003. Epub 2021 Jun 17.

Pelvic floor disorders stop women exercising: A survey of 4556 symptomatic women

Jodie G Dakic  1 , Jill Cook  2 , Jean Hay-Smith  3 , Kuan-Yin Lin  4 , Helena Frawley  5
Affiliations
Observational Study

Pelvic floor disorders stop women exercising: A survey of 4556 symptomatic women

Jodie G Dakic et al. J Sci Med Sport. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

Objectives: To establish the impact of pelvic floor (PF) symptoms (urinary incontinence [UI], anal incontinence [AI] and pelvic organ prolapse [POP]) on exercise participation in women.

Design: Observational, cross-sectional survey.

Methods: Australian, 18- to 65-year-old women with self-identified PF symptoms during exercise (current, past or fear of) were included. This survey included validated questionnaires: Questionnaire for female Urinary Incontinence Diagnosis, Incontinence Severity Index, Pelvic Floor Bother Questionnaire, International Physical Activity Questionnaire and purpose-designed questions on the impact of PF symptoms on sport/exercise participation. Analysis utilised descriptive statistics. Chi-square tests for independence and t-tests were used to explore differences between groups.

Results: Of 4556 women, 46% stopped exercise they had previously participated in due to their PF symptoms. Urinary incontinence had the largest impact; 41% with UI, followed by 37% with POP and 26% with AI stopped at least one form of exercise. Forty-two percent of women who experienced symptoms in high-impact sports stopped participation (versus low-impact: 21%). Sports commonly ceased included volleyball (63%), racquet-sports (57%) and basketball (54%). Exercise cessation was reported amongst younger (18-25 years: 35%) and nulliparous women (31%). Common exercise modifications included lowering the intensity (58%) or frequency (34%) of participation or changing to a low-impact form of sport/exercise (45%).

Conclusions: Pelvic floor symptoms stop women of all ages and levels of participation from exercising. High-impact sports were most affected but low-impact sports were also ceased. Symptomatic women also modify exercise to less vigorous/frequent participation, which may place them at risk of physical inactivity, and chronic illness.

Keywords: Anal incontinence; Exercise; Pelvic floor; Pelvic organ prolapse; Urinary incontinence; Women.

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Comment in

  • The burden of pelvic floor dysfunction.
    Dułak NA, Trzciński R. Dułak NA, et al. J Sci Med Sport. 2022 Apr;25(4):293. doi: 10.1016/j.jsams.2021.11.042. Epub 2021 Nov 23. J Sci Med Sport. 2022. PMID: 34916168 No abstract available.

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