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The relationship between running kinematics and the pelvic floor muscle function of female runners

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A Commentary to this article was published on 27 June 2019

Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

To date, no study has investigated the correlation between pelvic floor muscle function and urinary incontinence in female runners. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between pelvic floor muscle function and to correlate urinary leakage as measured by the modified pad test with kinematic variables of running.

Methods

The sample consisted of 11 incontinent and 17 continent runners. On day 1, they performed a maximum velocity test on a treadmill using an incremental protocol. Their pelvic floor muscles were evaluated using vaginal palpation and manometry, and the adapted pad test was used to evaluate the severity of urinary incontinence. Then, running kinematics were evaluated on a treadmill using a circuit camera to capture vertical displacement, knee flexion during the load response phase, and the initial contact of the foot with the ground for subsequent analysis. The pad test was performed during the kinematic evaluation.

Results

The vaginal squeeze pressure of the continent group (mean = 43.40 mmHg, SD = 21.75) was higher in descriptive terms than that of the incontinent group (mean = 38.94 mmHg, SD = 31.08), but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.66). There was an association between the weekly training load and urinary leakage. No associations were found between pelvic floor muscle function or urinary leakage and the kinematic variables.

Conclusions

Despite the correlation between the weekly training load and the severity of urinary leakage, no relationships were found between pelvic floor muscle functioning and the kinematics of running.

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Abbreviations

AI:

Athletic incontinence

BMI:

Body mass index

CG:

Continent group

ICC:

Intraclass correlation coefficient

IG:

Incontinent group

ICIQ-SF:

International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire—Short Form

ICS:

International Continence Society

IU:

Urinary incontinence

PF:

Pelvic floor

PFMs:

Pelvic floor muscles

SUI:

Stress urinary incontinence

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Funding

National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), process number: 134141/2017-2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical Therapy Department, Federal University of Uberlândia, Street Benjamin Constant, 1286, Uberlândia, MG, 38400-678, Brazil

    Rafaela de Melo Silva, Valdeci Carlos Dionisio, Vanessa Santos Pereira Baldon & Ana Paula Magalhães Resende

  2. Laboratory of Human Movement, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil

    Mário Eduardo Santos Rodrigues

  3. Physical Education Department, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil

    Guilherme Morais Puga

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  1. Rafaela de Melo Silva
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Correspondence to Rafaela de Melo Silva.

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de Melo Silva, R., Rodrigues, M.E.S., Puga, G.M. et al. The relationship between running kinematics and the pelvic floor muscle function of female runners. Int Urogynecol J 31, 155–163 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-019-03968-z

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