Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
J Sex Med. 2011 Nov;8(11):3144-53. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02437.x. Epub 2011 Aug 11.
There are numerous genital complaints in women cyclists, including pain, numbness, and edema of pelvic floor structures. Debate ensues about the best saddle design for protection of the pelvic floor.
To investigate the relationships between saddle design, seat pressures, and genital nerve function in female, competitive cyclists.
We previously compared genital sensation in healthy, premenopausal, competitive women bicyclists and runners. The 48 cyclists from our original study comprise the study group in this subanalysis.
Main outcome measures were: (i) genital vibratory thresholds (VTs) determined using the Medoc Vibratory Sensation Analyzer 3000 and (ii) saddle pressures as determined using a specially designed map sensor.
More than half of the participants (54.8%) used traditional saddles, and the remainder (45.2%) rode with cut-out saddles. On bivariate analysis, use of traditional saddles was associated with lower mean perineal saddle pressures (MPSP) than riding on cut-out saddles. Peak perineal saddle pressures (PPSP) were also lower; however, the difference did not reach statistical significance. Saddle design did not affect mean or peak total saddle pressures (MTSP, PTSP). Saddle width was significantly associated with PPSP, MTSP, and PTSP but not with MPSP. Women riding cut-out saddles had, on average, a 4 and 11 kPa increase in MPSP and PPSP, respectively, compared with women using traditional saddles (P = 0.008 and P = 0.010), after adjustment for other variables. Use of wider saddles was associated with lower PPSP and MTSP after adjustment. Although an inverse correlation was seen between saddle pressures and VTs on bivariate analysis, these differences were not significant after adjusting for age.
Cut-out and narrower saddles negatively affect saddle pressures in female cyclists. Effects of saddle design on pudendal nerve sensory function were not apparent in this cross-sectional analysis. Longitudinal studies evaluating the long-term effects of saddle pressure on the integrity of the pudendal nerve, pelvic floor, and sexual function are warranted.
女性自行车运动员会出现许多阴部问题，包括骨盆底结构的疼痛、麻木和水肿。关于保护骨盆底的最佳鞍座设计存在争议。
研究女性竞技自行车运动员鞍座设计、坐垫压力与阴部神经功能之间的关系。
我们之前比较了健康、绝经前的竞技女性自行车运动员和跑步运动员的阴部感觉。我们最初研究中的 48 名自行车运动员构成了本亚组分析的研究组。
主要观察指标为：（i）使用 Medoc 振动感觉分析仪 3000 确定的阴部振动阈值（VT），（ii）使用特殊设计的地图传感器确定的鞍座压力。
超过一半的参与者（54.8%）使用传统鞍座，其余（45.2%）使用切孔鞍座。在单变量分析中，与使用切孔鞍座相比，使用传统鞍座与更低的会阴鞍座平均压力（MPSP）相关。峰值会阴鞍座压力（PPSP）也较低；然而，差异没有达到统计学意义。鞍座设计不影响平均或峰值总鞍座压力（MTSP、PTSP）。鞍座宽度与 PPSP、MTSP 和 PTSP 显著相关，但与 MPSP 无关。与使用传统鞍座的女性相比，使用切孔鞍座的女性 MPSP 和 PPSP 平均分别增加了 4kPa 和 11kPa（P=0.008 和 P=0.010），调整其他变量后。使用更宽的鞍座与调整后的 PPSP 和 MTSP 较低相关。虽然在单变量分析中观察到鞍座压力与 VT 之间存在负相关，但在调整年龄后，这些差异并不显著。
切孔和更窄的鞍座会降低女性自行车运动员的鞍座压力。在这项横断面分析中，鞍座设计对阴部神经感觉功能的影响并不明显。需要进行纵向研究，评估鞍座压力对阴部神经、骨盆底和性功能完整性的长期影响。
