Impact of a 12-Week Pelvic Floor Training on Urinary Incontinence in Functional Fitness Training Athletes

NCT06623045 | Completed

• 2 other identifiers: UPM2022112520221125
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 21
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Functional fitness training (FFT) is a prominent exercise regimen, that has emerged as the dominant fitness trend of the 21st century , advocating high-intensity exercises with repetitive, impactful movements that often result in increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) and neuromuscular fatigue. This demanding training pattern, characterized by minimal rest pauses, has been associated with potential health concerns, particularly urinary incontinence (UI). In athletes, UI is intricately connected to the frequency of exposure to increased IAP during high-impact activities. These activities assume even greater significance in sports, particularly in FFT, where there is an increased frequency of impactful foot contact on the ground and intensive abdominal exercises, potentially correlating with the overload of the pelvic floor muscles and the emergence of dysfunctions. Therefore, this study aims to examine the effects of a 12-week training program focused on Kegel exercises performed with diaphragmatic breathing in nulliparous female FFT athletes. The central hypothesis postulates that after the 12-week intervention, these women will exhibit enhancements in both the muscular activation and contractile capacity of their pelvic floor, leading to a reduction in instances of urine leakage.

Conditions

Strength; Muscle Activation; Urinary Incontinence (UI)

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Strength

  Maximal, medium and minimal force generated of the pelvic floor muscles, measured with a vaginal dynamometer, which involves a pelvimeter probe with two arms that could be separated up to 25°, connected to the Phenix USB2 device (Pelvimètre Phenix, Vivaltis). The closed pelvimeter is inserted into the vagina with one arm positioned against the posterior side of the symphysis pubis. Once in place, to evaluate the contractile force of the PFM, the participant performes a pelvic floor contraction for 10 seconds against the arms of the probe fixed at 5º (an isometric contraction).

  From the enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

• muscle activation

  Measured as tone or initial inertia index (III) using a vaginal dynamometer, which involves a pelvimeter probe with two arms that could be separated up to 25°, connected to the Phenix USB2 device (Pelvimètre Phenix, Vivaltis). The closed pelvimeter is inserted into the vagina with one arm positioned against the posterior side of the symphysis pubis. Once in place, the probe is opened by 5° to measure basal muscle activation (initial inertia index) and shock absorption, which assesses the pelvic floor ability to withstand stress.

  From the enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Urinary incontinence (UI)

  From the enrollment to the end of treatment at 12 weeks

Study Arms (2)

PFM strength

EXPERIMENTAL

This group carries out a 12-week training intervention based on Kegel exercises to improve strength and muscle activation

Other: Pelvic floor muscle training intervention

Control Group

NO INTERVENTION

This group is used as a control group. They keep training their sports discipline but don't join the 12-week PFM training protocol.

Interventions

Pelvic floor muscle training intervention OTHER

The training program consisted of 12 weeks of PFM exercises, 3 times per week, with each session lasting between 10 and 15 minutes. The program followed different stages through the weeks: (1) proprioception of pelvic floor muscles activation and integration with diaphragmatic breathing, (2) stabilization and strengthening of the pelvic floor musculature through progressive overloading, and (3) transference of these exercises to FFT practice. During the 12 weeks, short contractions (2") were combined with longer ones (5 to 10"), carrying out the progressive overload by increasing the number of contractions, the duration of the contraction, or by evolving the execution position towards more upright postures and sporting movements.

PFM strength

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 65 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: cisgender women
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Nulliparous FFT female athletes
• had been practicing FFT or weightlifting for at least 2 years
• train a minimum of 3 days/week
• had not previously performed pelvic floor exercises
• had no medical contraindications or previous pelvic floor surgeries

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidad Politecnica de Madrid: lead

Study Sites (1)

Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

Madrid, Madrid, 28040, Spain

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Urinary Incontinence

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Urination Disorders; Urologic Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Urogenital Diseases; Male Urogenital Diseases; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms; Urological Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: DOUBLE
• Who Masked: CARE PROVIDER, OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 23, 2024
• First Posted: October 2, 2024
• Study Start: April 23, 2023
• Primary Completion: July 6, 2023
• Study Completion: September 10, 2023
• Last Updated: October 2, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-09

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

ES (1)