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.