Dakic Jodie, Perraton Luke, Lindstrom Jessica, Hain Elana, Chuah Shinyi, Stay Sharon
Department of Physiotherapy, Monash University, Frankston, Australia.
National Tennis Academy, Tennyson, Australia.
Eur J Sport Sci. 2025 Aug;25(8):e70013. doi: 10.1002/ejsc.70013.
More than half of female ball-sport athletes experience urinary leakage including 60% of Australian rugby union players. Beyond urinary incontinence (UI), the prevalence and impact of other pelvic floor (PF) symptoms in elite female athletes remains largely unknown. This study investigated PF symptom prevalence and impact on performance in elite female rugby players. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted. Australian elite female rugby players (n = 56) completed a PF questionnaire during annual medical screening. Validated questionnaires established: presence/severity of UI (ICIQ-UI SF), presence and bother of PF symptoms (PFBQ), urinary tract infection, constipation, voiding difficulty (APFQ) and pelvic pain (adapted UDI-6). Purpose-designed questions established symptom impact on performance and well-being. Data were analysed descriptively. Response/questionnaire completion rates were > 95%. Participants were on average: 22.4 years (SD: 5.9); BMI 26.3 kg/m (SD: 4.6); mostly nulliparous (94%) and played 6.5 years of rugby (SD: 4.4). More than half (57%) experienced PF symptoms during sport, most commonly UI (41%). Other PF symptoms experienced during sport included: AI (29%), bladder urgency (21%)/frequency (14%) and pelvic pain (12%). One in two symptomatic players reported an impact on performance (53%) including training reductions (34%); activity avoidance (25%) and concentration loss (9%). Players restricted fluid intake to avoid provoking symptoms. A quarter of players reported PF symptoms that impacted their sports performance. This is the first study to establish that, beyond UI, AI, bladder urgency/frequency and pelvic pain are also prevalent in elite rugby players. Elite female rugby players require assessment and management of PF symptoms to maximise performance and well-being.
超过半数的女子球类运动员存在尿失禁问题，其中包括60%的澳大利亚橄榄球联盟女运动员。除了尿失禁（UI），精英女性运动员中其他盆底（PF）症状的患病率及影响在很大程度上仍不为人知。本研究调查了精英女性橄榄球运动员的PF症状患病率及其对运动表现的影响。开展了一项横断面观察性研究。澳大利亚精英女性橄榄球运动员（n = 56）在年度医学筛查期间完成了一份PF问卷。经验证的问卷确定了：尿失禁的存在/严重程度（ICIQ-UI SF）、PF症状的存在及困扰程度（PFBQ）、尿路感染、便秘、排尿困难（APFQ）以及盆腔疼痛（改编后的UDI-6）。专门设计的问题确定了症状对运动表现和幸福感的影响。对数据进行了描述性分析。应答/问卷完成率> 95%。参与者的平均年龄为22.4岁（标准差：5.9）；体重指数为26.3 kg/m（标准差：4.6）；大多未生育（94%），从事橄榄球运动6.5年（标准差：4.4）。超过半数（57%）的运动员在运动期间出现PF症状，最常见的是尿失禁（41%）。运动期间出现的其他PF症状包括：肛门失禁（AI，29%）、膀胱尿急（21%）/尿频（14%）以及盆腔疼痛（12%）。每两名有症状的运动员中就有一名报告症状对运动表现有影响（53%），包括减少训练量（34%）、避免活动（25%）以及注意力不集中（9%）。运动员限制液体摄入量以避免引发症状。四分之一的运动员报告PF症状影响了她们的运动表现。这是第一项证实除尿失禁外，肛门失禁、膀胱尿急/尿频和盆腔疼痛在精英橄榄球运动员中也很普遍的研究。精英女性橄榄球运动员需要对PF症状进行评估和管理，以最大限度地提高运动表现和幸福感。
