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

Dakic, Jodie; Cook, Jill; Hay‐Smith, Jean; Lin, Kun-You; Frawley, Helena

doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2021.06.003

Cited by 31 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…Pires et al [38] found that women who practice high-impact sports had a greater impact on the QoL than those who practice low-impact ones. Dakic et al [39] also demonstrated that women with symptoms of PFM disorders in high-impact sports is the most interrupted the exercise (42%), when compared to women engaged in low-impact sports (21%).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training In Women Practicing High-impact Sports: A Systematic Review

et al. 2022

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Urinary incontinence (UI) in female sports women can impair their quality-of-life (QoL) and reduce their participation in sport. 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. 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 at 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 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.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training In Women Practicing High-impact Sports: A Systematic Review

et al. 2022

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“…Unfortunately, such results are not available at the present time. A high prevalence of PF disorders in exercising females and a negative impact on affected women’s quality of life are repeatedly reported; however, studies of coping strategies or investigations to identify potential pathophysiological mechanisms are scarce [ 4 , 5 , 6 , 46 , 64 ]. With this article, the authors intend to emphasize a holistic view on how breathing is intertwined with PFM functions.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The presented basic concept on the impact and potential consequences of different breathing patterns during sports and strenuous physical activity on the PF attempts to underscore one possible contributor to why strong and otherwise healthy women lose urine during exertion. From a continence point of view, it makes a difference whether certain physical exercises aimed at enhancing abdominal muscle strength and/or therapeutic interventions aimed at improving PFM functions are performed during inspiration or expiration, with the glottis closed or open, and with or without the PFMs and abdominal muscles co-contracted [ 64 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breathing, (S)Training and the Pelvic Floor—A Basic Concept

Talasz¹,

Kremser

Talasz

et al. 2022

Healthcare

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Background: The current scientific literature is inconsistent regarding the potential beneficial or deleterious effects of high-intensity physical activities on the pelvic floor (PF) in women. So far, it has not been established with certainty whether disparate breathing mechanisms may exert short- or long-term influence on the PF function in this context, although based on the established physiological interrelationship of breathing with PF activation, this seems plausible. Objective: To propose a basic concept of the influence of different breathing patterns on the PF during strenuous physical efforts. Methodical approaches: Review of the recent literature, basic knowledge of classical western medicine regarding the principles of muscle physiology and the biomechanics of breathing, additional schematic illustrations, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data corroborate the proposed concept and exemplify the consequences of strenuous efforts on the PF in relation to respective breathing phases. Conclusion: The pelvic floor muscles (PFMs) physiologically act as expiratory muscles in synergy with the anterolateral abdominal muscles, contracting during expiration and relaxing during inspiration. Obviously, a strenuous physical effort requires an expiratory motor synergy with the PFM and abdominal muscles in a co-contracted status to train the PFM and protect the PF against high intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). Holding breath in an inspiratory pattern during exertion stresses the PF because the high IAP impinges on the relaxed, hence insufficiently protected, PFMs. It seems conceivable that such disadvantageous breathing, if performed regularly and repeatedly, may ultimately cause PF dysfunction. At any rate, future research needs to take into account the respective breathing cycles during measurements and interventions addressing PFM function.

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“…By completely avoiding all strenuous PA, women with PD may inadvertently be further negatively impacting their pelvic floor function in the long term. Women with PD have been shown to discontinue or modify PA participation as a result of pelvic floor symptoms, (urinary incontinence, urinary urgency or loss of bowel control and less often due to POP symptoms (vaginal bulging or heaviness) [ 58 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pelvic organ prolapse: The lived experience

Carroll

Sullivan²,

Doody³

et al. 2022

PLoS ONE

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Background Up to 50% of women will develop pelvic organ prolapse (POP) over their lifetime. Symptoms include pain, bulge, urinary, bowel and sexual symptoms affecting all aspects of a woman’s life. This study explores the lived experience of women with POP. Methodology A qualitative study was undertaken. Following institutional ethical approval women from an online peer support group (n = 930 members) were recruited to participate in semi-structured interviews. Inclusion criteria stipulated women (> 18years), pre-menopausal, at least one-year post-partum, diagnosed with POP and aware of their diagnosis. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with a clinician specialising in pelvic health. A battery of questions was designed to elicit discussion on their experience of being diagnosed with POP and its impact on daily life and relationships. Interviews were carried out via Zoom, recorded and transcribed. Thematic analysis was undertaken. Findings Fourteen women (32–41 years), para 1–3 participated. All had at least one vaginal birth; three had vacuum, four had forceps operative births. All had Grade 1–3 POP. Interviews lasted 40–100 minutes. Three core themes with subthemes were identified; biological/physical, psychological and social. Women were particularly affected in terms of sport and exercise participation, their own perceptions of their ability as mothers and fear of their condition worsening. They described societal attitudes, reporting stigma around POP and women’s pelvic health in general, expectations placed on women to put up with their symptoms and an idealised perception of new motherhood. Conclusions The impact of POP from a biopsychosocial perspective reflects other chronic conditions. Prevention, early education and supports for developing strong self-management approaches would be beneficial for long term management of this condition.

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

Cited by 31 publications

References 29 publications

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training In Women Practicing High-impact Sports: A Systematic Review

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training In Women Practicing High-impact Sports: A Systematic Review

Breathing, (S)Training and the Pelvic Floor—A Basic Concept

Pelvic organ prolapse: The lived experience

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