Prevalence and severity of urinary incontinence among male and female competitors and recreational CrossFit® practitioners

E Dominguez-Antuña; J C Diz; C Ayán; D Suárez-Iglesias; J A Rodríguez-Marroyo

doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2022.07.014

Prevalence and severity of urinary incontinence among male and female competitors and recreational CrossFit® practitioners

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2022 Sep:276:144-147. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2022.07.014. Epub 2022 Jul 22.

Authors

E Dominguez-Antuña¹, J C Diz², C Ayán³, D Suárez-Iglesias⁴, J A Rodríguez-Marroyo⁵

Affiliations

¹ Dark Lion Sport Management, Siero, Asturias, Spain.
² Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, Hospital Álvaro Cunqueiro, Vigo, Pontevedra, Spain; Well-Move Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), Department of Special Didactics, Faculty of Education and Sport Science, University of Vigo, Campus a Xunqueira, Pontevedra, Spain.
³ Well-Move Research Group, Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), Department of Special Didactics, Faculty of Education and Sport Science, University of Vigo, Campus a Xunqueira, Pontevedra, Spain.
⁴ VALFIS Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of León, Campus de Vegazana, s/n, León, Spain.
⁵ VALFIS Research Group, Institute of Biomedicine (IBIOMED), Department of Physical Education and Sports, University of León, Campus de Vegazana, s/n, León, Spain. Electronic address: jarodm@unileon.es.

PMID: 35905542
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2022.07.014

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence, severity and type of urinary incontinence (UI) in female and male CrossFit® practitioners.

Study design: The study design is an online cross-sectional survey distributed to CrossFit® practitioners across all Spanish regions. The questionnaire included categorical questions related to CrossFit® practice, multiple-choice questions to determine the exercises performed during reported UI symptoms, and The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short-Form questionnaire items.

Results: Five hundred seventy-one practitioners (34.0 ± 8.37 years, Body Mass Index 24.20 ± 3.34 kg/m²) met inclusion criteria and completed the survey. There were and 316 females and 255 males. Around 45 % of women and 6 % of men reported having UI (p < 0.001). The severity of UI mainly was slight (30.3 % women, 3.5 % men) and moderate (11.7 % women, 2.3 % men) (p < 0.001). Stress and urgent UI were the most prevalent types among women (36 %) and men (5 %) (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: This study found that UI is relatively common among female CrossFit® practitioners, especially in repetitive jumps. The practitioners' profile (amateur/competitor) does not affect the prevalence or severity of UI. Male athletes can also experience urine leakage while performing CrossFit®, although its prevalence is much lower when compared to female practitioners.

Keywords: Fitness; High-intensity functional training; Pelvic floor; Stress incontinence; Women's health.

MeSH terms

Cross-Sectional Studies
Exercise Therapy
Female
Humans
Male
Prevalence
Surveys and Questionnaires
Urinary Incontinence* / epidemiology