Urinary Incontinence in Sport Women: from Risk Factors to Treatment – A Review

Although a variety of the health benefits have been attributed to regular physical activity, some studies suggested that strenuous exercise may be considered as an independent risk factor for the onset of urinary incontinence in young women. The aim of this article is to provide a review of the scientific literature concerning the role of physiotherapy in the prevention and treatment of urinary incontinence in sport women. Stress urinary incontinence is defined as a leakage of urine during elevated intra-abdominal pressure that can occur during exercise. This dysfunction may affect the quality of life, carrying negative implications on psychological, social and athletic performance. Pelvic floor muscle training has been shown to be an effective treatment in women in general population. However, few studies have been conducted showing the effects of the pelvic floor training in sportswomen. In addition, there are no randomized clinical trials studying this subject. Evidence suggests that stress urinary incontinency may be related to delays in pelvic floor muscles contraction in response to sudden increase of intra-abdominal pressure. Further research is necessary to determine the pelvic floor muscles function in women that perform physical activity with different levels of exigency.