virtual reality gaming provides clinicians with a useful tool for improving dynamic balance and balance confidence in older adults.

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Aims The impact of CrossFit (high energy and intensity exercise) on SUI has not been well described. This study evaluates the incidence of SUI in physically active women, and examines specific exercises that can increase SUI. Methods A cross‐sectional study was conducted in women from four CrossFit centers and one aerobic center for comparison. Participants were surveyed regarding baseline demographics, activity levels, severity, and frequency of leakage during CrossFit exercises as well as preventative strategies against SUI. Participants were stratified based on age, body mass index, types of exercises, parity, delivery, and compared using Mann Whitney‐U and Chi square. Results This study had 105 CrossFit (mean = 36.9 years) and 44 aerobic (mean = 29.0 years) participants. Fifty women reported SUI during exercises, while none of the aerobic women reported SUI during exercise. The top three CrossFit exercises associated to SUI were double‐unders (47.7%), jumping rope (41.3%), and box jumps (28.4%). CrossFit women with a history of parity had significantly more episodes of SUI with box jumps, jumping rope, double‐unders, thrusters, squats without weights, squats with weights, and trampoline jumping (P < 0.001). The top preventative strategies were emptying the bladder before workouts, wearing dark pants, and performing Kegel exercises during workout. Vaginal delivery (OR 4.94) and total incontinence symptom severity index (OR 1.45) were both significant predictors of SUI during exercise (P < 0.05). Conclusion There is a significantly higher risk of SUI during CrossFit exercises associated with previous pregnancy and vaginal delivery but also in nulliparous women. In general, women participating in CrossFit have been applying preventative measures for protection of SUI during exercises.

Human pelvic floor muscles have been shown to operate synergistically with a wide variety of muscles, which has been suggested to be an important contributor to continence and pelvic stability during functional tasks. However, the neural mechanism of pelvic floor muscle synergies remains unknown. Here, we test the hypothesis that activation in motor cortical regions associated with pelvic floor activation are part of the neural substrate for such synergies. We first use electromyographic recordings to extend previous findings and demonstrate that pelvic floor muscles activate synergistically during voluntary activation of gluteal muscles, but not during voluntary activation of finger muscles. We then show, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), that a region of the medial wall of the precentral gyrus consistently activates during both voluntary pelvic floor muscle activation and voluntary gluteal activation, but not during voluntary finger activation. We finally confirm, using transcranial magnetic stimulation, that the fMRI-identified medial wall region is likely to generate pelvic floor muscle activation. Thus, muscle synergies of the human male pelvic floor appear to involve activation of motor cortical areas associated with pelvic floor control.