Urinary Incontinence in Parous Women Practicing Non-Extreme Competitive Sports Compared to the General Population

Abstract

Introduction and objective: This cross-sectional study aimed to compare the prevalence of urinary symptoms in physically active females to the general population represented by medical staff. Materials and methods: We conducted a survey utilizing the UDI-6 questionnaire on women playing catchball for at least one year and training twice a week or more in an official Israeli competitive league. The control group consisted of women practicing medicine (physicians and nurses). Results: The study group consisted of 317 catchball players and the control group consisted of 105 medical staff practitioners. Both groups were similar in most of the demographic characteristics. Urinary symptoms represented by UDI-6 scores were higher in women in the catchball group. Frequency and urgency symptoms were common in women playing catchball. Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) was insignificant between the groups (43.8% in the catchball group and 35.2% in the medical staff group, p = 0.114). However, severe symptoms of SUI were more common in catchball players. Conclusions: The rates of all urinary symptoms were higher in in catchball players. SUI symptoms were common in both groups. However, severe symptoms of SUI were more common in catchball players.

Keywords

• urinary incontinence
• stress urinary incontinence
• physical activity