Pelvic floor muscle exercise as the best stress urinary incontinence prevention method in women practising competitive sport
AbstractExercises in stress urinary incontinence (SUI) cover Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises (PFME), also known in literature as Pelvic Floor Muscle Training (PFMT) or Kegel exercises; isometric exercises, exercises of the abdominal and gluteal muscles and of the adductor of thigh, respiratory exercises carried out through the abdominal tract, exercises in water. In persons with urinary incontinence, the interaction between the pelvic floor muscles and the transverse abdominal muscle is impaired, suggesting a significant role of this muscle in urinary continence. Consequently, a moderate training, e.g. including exercises of Pilates method, may be part of the therapy. Stress urinary incontinence is a frequent occurrence among women practising competitive sport. In the review article we have presented the incidence of stress urinary incontinence in sportswomen, risk factors and physiotherapeutic treatment. We have paid specific attention to the prevention of stress urinary incontinence in female athletes.