Associations between running mechanics, functional lower extremity strength, and stress urinary incontinence in parous female runners.

BACKGROUND

Women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) may have altered running mechanics and reduced hip muscle strength compared to women without SUI. Little research has examined running metrics and functional lower extremity strength of parous runners.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if stress urinary incontinence (SUI) severity correlates with running metrics and lower extremity muscle strength among parous women.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional observational study of 22 parous participants (mean age 39.8 years, with a mean of 3.4 pregnancies and 8.1 years interval since last delivery).

METHODS

Participants completed the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI), Urinary Distress Inventory (UDI) 6, Colorectal-Anal Distress (CRAD) Inventory 8, and Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory (POPDI) 6, Questionnaire for Urinary Incontinence Diagnosis (QUID), and provided demographic, relevant running, and obstetric/gynecologic history information. After a brief warm-up, participants completed 30-second single leg sit to stand tests bilaterally and a standardized 10-minute treadmill run with pod cadence assessment. Pearson-product moment correlation coefficients were calculated (alpha = 0.05).

RESULTS

Prolonged ground contact times were associated with higher ICIQ-UI SF (r = 0.523, p = 0.015), POPDI-6 (r = 0.694, p < 0.001), and UDI-6 scores (r = 0.577, p = 0.006), while lower cadences were associated with higher POPDI-6 (r = -0.550, p = 0.010) and UDI-6 scores (r = -0.444, p=0.044).

CONCLUSION

Parous female runners with more severe SUI and prolapse symptoms demonstrate altered running mechanics characterized by prolonged ground contact times and slower cadences.