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Pelvic floor dysfunctions and associated factors in female CrossFit practitioners: a cross-sectional study

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Abstract

Introduction and hypothesis

It is known that high-impact exercises can cause an increase in intra-abdominal pressure and provide overload in the pelvic floor structures. We hypothesized that female CrossFit practitioners would report symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) and that there will be factors associated with these dysfunctions.

Methods

The study design is an online cross-sectional survey. Demographic and anthropometric data, the characterization of CrossFit activity, the description of PFD and previous obstetric history were collected through a structured web-based questionnaire. Associations between PFD and the clinical and CrossFit-related independent variables were tested using logistic regression analysis.

Results

A total of 828 female CrossFit practitioners answered the questionnaire. The most prevalent symptom was anal incontinence (AI) (52.7%), with flatus incontinence (FI) being the most reported (93.3%). Women who reported constipation are 1.7 times more likely to have FI, and women who practice CrossFit more than five times a week are 3.0 times more likely to have FI. Urinary incontinence(UI) affected 36% of women, and 84.2% of participants reported urinary loss during CrossFit practice. The occurrence of dyspareunia was reported by 48.7% and showed an inverse association with age and body mass index. POP was reported by only 1.4% of the sample.

Conclusion

There is a high prevalence of PFD in female CrossFit practitioners, with AI being the most reported symptom, especially FI. In addition, constipation and weekly training frequency were significantly associated with FI. UI occurred primarily in CrossFit exercises, and dyspareunia was the most prevalent sexual symptom.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the participants who were involved in the project for their contribution to the data collection.

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Therapy, Federal University of São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luiz, km 235 -SP-310, São Carlos, São Paulo, Zip Code: 13565-905, Brazil

    Giulia Keppe Pisani, Tatiana de Oliveira Sato & Cristiano Carvalho

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  1. Giulia Keppe Pisani
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  2. Tatiana de Oliveira Sato
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  3. Cristiano Carvalho
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Correspondence to Cristiano Carvalho.

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Pisani, G.K., de Oliveira Sato, T. & Carvalho, C. Pelvic floor dysfunctions and associated factors in female CrossFit practitioners: a cross-sectional study. Int Urogynecol J 32, 2975–2984 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-020-04581-1

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