Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate in young nulliparous female trampolinists the hypothetical associations between the level of athletic performance and the volume of training with urine leakage.
Design: Cross-sectional cohort study.
Setting: Professional trampolinists.
Participants: Twenty-two female athletes participating in a trampoline national championship were included in this study.
Assessment of risk factors: The associations for player-related performance variables were evaluated using Spearman rank correlation and Kruskal-Wallis H test verified the differences between the tertiles.
Main outcome measures: Rate of urinary incontinence (UI) among young athletes and the relationship with the athletic performance. Screening was performed through a questionnaire. This included the demographic sample characterization, the assessment of training volume, and the athletes' ranking in the championship. Additionally, it included the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short-Form (ICIQ-UI-SF) to assess the leakage.
Results: About 72.7% of the participants reported that they experienced urine leakage during trampoline practice and described that the episodes of leakage started after the beginning of the trampoline. Significant associations between the athletic performance and the training volume were observed with the severity of incontinence. Dividing the sample in tertiles of training volume, it was observed that the third tertile was the one with greatest impact of incontinence on their quality of life (ICIQ score).
Conclusions: The results confirm a high frequency of UI in young trampolinists and reveal a clear identification of the athletes' ranking and the training volume as risk factors to develop and worsen urine loss.
Clinical relevance: Special attention from team physicians and trainers is required for this athletes' problem that is often hidden by shame. In addition, female athletes practicing high-impact sports should be informed about the risk to develop pelvic floor muscles dysfunction and should be encouraged to seek help from health professionals to minimize or even eliminate the urine incontinence.