Online Education Program in Sportswomen for the Prevention of Stress Urinary Incontinence

Overview

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) can be defined through its symptoms as the involuntary loss of urine when carrying out an activity or effort that implies an increase in intra-abdominal pressure (IAP). Perineal dysfunctions are a widespread problem among the sportswomen population. Therefore, a continuous exposure to exercises that entail a high intra-abdominal pressure such as that which occurs in high-impact sports in women. As seen in other studies in which pelvic floor educational programs were taught; advice and guidance focused on perineal health education helped participants improve knowledge, symptoms, and quality of life, as well as reduce the incidence of SUI. For these reasons, it is relevant to carry out a prevention and education program in the female population who play high-impact sports, since they have a high prevalence of SUI.

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) can be defined through its symptoms as the involuntary loss of urine when carrying out an activity or effort that implies an increase in intra-abdominal pressure (IAP), for example, coughing, sneezing or performing sports activities that involve hyperpressive gestures. Perineal dysfunctions are a widespread problem among the population. Within these dysfunctions, the presence of stress urinary incontinence can be highlighted, the incidence of which is higher in women. Among its risk factors the investigators find; advanced age, obesity, gynecological surgery, pregnancy and vaginal delivery (increasing the risk if it is an instrumental delivery). On the other hand, although the practice of regular exercise and having an active life is a protective factor for a good physical-functional state, a continuous exposure to exercises that entail a high intra-abdominal pressure such as that which occurs in high-impact sports in women, is another important risk factor to take into account in this population. Of the risk factors, the practice of high-impact sports has also been found, so one in four women who practice different sports classified as high-impact have also ended up developing this pathology. In addition to the problems at the functional level that SUI entails, the impact it has on the quality of life of the people who suffer from it should be emphasized, assuming the patients feelings related to low mood, frustration, discomfort, modesty, etc. Therefore, their work, social and personal lifestyle is also altered. In other studies in which pelvic floor educational programs were taught; advice and guidance focused on perineal health education helped participants improve knowledge, symptoms, and quality of life, as well as reduce the incidence of SUI. This is where physiotherapists intervene, since they have an essential role in the transmission of information regarding its prevention and treatment. For these reasons, it is relevant to carry out a prevention and education program in the female population who play high-impact sports, since they have a high prevalence of SUI, as recommended by the seventh professional principle applied to physiotherapy. Education about the perineal sphere in women reduces the practice of habits that may put their pelvic floor at risk. Despite this, currently in primary care there are not a large number of programs for perineal health. This is demonstrated by different investigations that maintain that almost all the women who participated in them had not consulted their symptoms with anyone or had heard of the pelvic floor muscles or strengthening exercises. Without forgetting that it is increasingly common for women to be present in sports at a professional level, where their demands can favor the increase in the prevalence of suffering from SUI. For this reason, this study intends to observe the effects of a SUI prevention program in female athletes, both low and high level, and check whether there are differences at both levels.