Wikander, Lolita, Kirshbaum, Marilynne N., Waheed, Nasreena, and Gahreman, Daniel E. (2022) Urinary incontinence in competitive women weightlifters. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 36 (11). pp. 3130-3135.

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Abstract

Urinary incontinence has the potential to diminish athletic performance and discourage women from participating in sport and exercise. This study determined the prevalence and possible risk factors for urinary incontinence in competitive women weightlifters. This research was a cross-sectional, survey-based study completed by 191 competitive women weightlifters. The frequency and severity of urinary incontinence was determined using the Incontinence Severity Index. Urinary incontinence was defined as an Incontinence Severity Index score >0. The survey questions focused on risk factors, the context and triggers for urinary incontinence, and self-care strategies. Approximately, 31.9% of subjects experienced urinary incontinence within 3 months of completing the survey. Incontinence Severity Index scores were significantly correlated with parity (r = 0.283, p = 0.01) and age (r = 0.216, p = 0.01). There was no significant correlation between the Incontinence Severity Index score and the number of years participating in any form of resistance training (r = −0.010, p = 0.886) or weightlifting (r = −0.045, p = 0.534), body mass index (r = 0.058, p = 0.422), or competition total (r = −0.114, p = 0.115). The squat was the most likely exercise to provoke urinary incontinence. Although the number of repetitions, weight lifted, body position, and ground impact may increase the likelihood of urinary incontinence occurring during a lift, it is difficult to determine which factor has the greatest influence. Some self-care strategies used by competitive women weightlifters who experience urinary incontinence, such as training while dehydrated, have the potential to diminish athletic performance.

Item ID:	68715
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1533-4287
Keywords:	resistance training, pelvic floor strength, athletic incontinence
Related URLs:	Publisher
Copyright Information:	Copyright © 2021 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. on behalf of the National Strength and Conditioning Association. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives License 4.0 (CCBY-NC-ND), where it is permissible to download and share the work provided it is properly cited. The work cannot be changed in any way or used commercially without permission from the journal.
Funders:	Charles Darwin University (CDU)
Date Deposited:	20 Jul 2021 01:53
FoR Codes:	42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4207 Sports science and exercise > 420799 Sports science and exercise not elsewhere classified @ 50% 42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4201 Allied health and rehabilitation science > 420199 Allied health and rehabilitation science not elsewhere classified @ 25% 42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4206 Public health > 420605 Preventative health care @ 25%
SEO Codes:	20 HEALTH > 2003 Provision of health and support services > 200307 Nursing @ 100%
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