Pelvic floor strengthening as a non-invasive treatment for urinary incontinence in female mountain athletes.

Abstract

Introduction: Urinary incontinence (UI), is considered the most common pelvic floor dysfunction in female mountain athletes aged between 20 and 40 years, its main cause is the weakness of the pelvic musculature and on a smaller scale the weakness of the abdominal core, for such reason the application of a pelvic floor strengthening exercise protocol can be beneficial as a non-invasive treatment of UI and thus improving its impact on quality of life.

Objective: To analyze the efficacy of the application of a pelvic floor strengthening exercise protocol as a non-invasive treatment of UI in female mountain athletes and its impact on quality of life.

Material and Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative quaxiexperimental research was carried out in a population of female mountain athletes between 20-45 years of age suffering from UI, using the ICIQ-SF questionnaire for urinary incontinence to assess the impact on quality of life. Results: Urinary incontinence and its impact on quality of life were evaluated in 20 female mountain athletes. Proving the effectiveness of the application of the pelvic floor strengthening exercise protocol as a treatment for UI.

Conclusions: The applied training protocol for pelvic floor musculature is effective since it reduces UI symptoms and improves sports performance.