Objective: to verify the acute effect of running a half marathon on pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function and electromyographic (EMG) activity in female runners with and without urinary incontinence.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional pilot study. The sample was divided into two groups: runners with urinary incontinence (with UI) and runners without urinary incontinence (without UI). A semi-structured form and the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-UI-SF) were used for data collection. The EMG and PFM function were evaluated using the PERFECT method before and immediately after running a half marathon.
Results: A total of 14 runners were included (8 with UI; 6 without UI). Runners with and without UI did not show significant differences for EMG and PERFECT. The acute effects of the half marathon on runners without UI were reduced PFM function in terms of strength (p = 0.00), reduced endurance (p = 0.02), and reduced repetition (p = 0.03), and an increase in EMG measured by the median frequency (p = 0.02). Runners with UI showed reduced PFM function in terms of strength (p = 0.05) and repetition (p = 0.01).
Conclusion: there was no difference in the acute effects of the half marathon on PFM function and EMG in women with and without UI.
Keywords: electromyography; pelvic diaphragm; running; urinary incontinence.