Skaug, KL, Bø, K, Engh, ME, and Frawley, H. Prevalence of pelvic floor dysfunction, bother, and risk factors and knowledge of the pelvic floor muscles in Norwegian male and female powerlifters and Olympic weightlifters. J Strength Cond Res 36(10): 2800-2807, 2022-Strenuous exercise has been suggested as a risk factor of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD). Powerlifters and Olympic weightlifters compete with high external loads. To date, knowledge of PFD in these athletes has been sparse. The aim of this study was to investigate prevalence, risk factors, and bother of PFD in powerlifters and Olympic weightlifters and their knowledge of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM). All athletes aged $18 years competing in $1 National Championship in powerlifting or Olympic weightlifting in 2018/2019 were invited. The International Consensus on Incontinence Questionnaires were used to assess PFD. One hundred eighty women and 204 men participated. The prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI), anal incontinence (AI), and pelvic organ prolapse in women was 50.0, 80.0, and 23.3%, respectively. Stress UI (SUI) was reported by 41.7% of the women and 87.8% reported a negative influence on sport performance. The prevalence of UI and AI in men was 9.3 and 61.8%. In women, increasing body mass index was significantly associated with SUI (odds ratio [OR]: 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.17) and international level of competition (OR: 3.27, 95% CI: 1.32-8.07) and weightlifting $4 d•wk 21 (OR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.08-0.86) with AI. In men, increasing age (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00-1.07) and frequently straining to void (OR: 4.84, 95% CI: 1.02-22.94) were significantly associated with AI. Forty-three percent of the women and 74% of the men did not know why and 44.4 and 72.5% how to train the PFM. In conclusion, the prevalence of PFD was high, and the athletes had limited knowledge of the PFM.

Introduction and hypothesis Artistic gymnastics, team gymnastics and cheerleading are sports including high-impact activities. It is presumed that the athletes’ pelvic floor must be functioning well to prevent urinary (UI) and anal incontinence (AI) during sports. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for UI and AI in female artistic gymnasts, team gymnasts and cheerleaders; the influence of UI and AI on daily living and sport performance; and the athletes’ knowledge about the pelvic floor muscles (PFM). Methods All female athletes ≥ 12 years of age competing in ≥ 1 National Championship in artistic gymnastics, team gymnastics or cheerleading in 2018/2019 were invited. International Consensus on Incontinence Questionnaires were used to assess the prevalence/bother of UI and AI. Results Among the 319 gymnasts and cheerleaders who participated, the prevalence of UI and AI was 67% and 84%, respectively. Age, training ≥ 4 days/week and straining to void were significantly associated with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and years of training with AI. Eighty-three percent of athletes with SUI reported a negative effect on sports performance, 22% would occasionally avoid training or specific exercises because of leakage, and 28% used pads for protection. Forty-one percent of the athletes had never heard about the PFM, and 74% reported an interest in PFM training to prevent/treat UI or AI. Conclusions UI and AI were prevalent in female gymnasts and cheerleaders, and SUI negatively influenced sport performance. The athletes’ knowledge about the PFM was limited.

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Introduction/Purpose Heavy lifting may produce strain on the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) due to high increases in intraabdominal pressure, but knowledge of the impact of weightlifting on the PFM is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate acute effects of heavy weightlifting on the PFM in strength-trained women and whether general strength in whole-body exercises correlated to PFM strength. Methods Forty-seven nulliparous women between 18-35 years who regularly performed weightlifting and were able to lift their own body weight x 1.2 in back squat and 1.5 in deadlift were included in this experimental crossover study. They participated in baseline evaluations (questionnaire/measurements of background characteristics and pelvic floor disorders, 1 repetition maximum (1RM) tests in back squat and deadlift) and one test day where they were randomized to start with 60 minutes of weightlifting (4 sets of 4 repetitions at 75-85% of 1RM in back squat and deadlift) or seated rest of 60 minutes. Vaginal pressure measurements of PFM resting pressure, strength, and endurance and sEMG-measurements of PFM resting activity were performed before/after weightlifting and rest. Results No statistically significant differences were found when comparing the change in PFM resting pressure, strength, endurance, and resting activity after heavy weightlifting and rest. There were no statistically significant correlations between PFM strength and maximum (1RM) or relative strength (1RM/bodyweight) in either back squat or deadlift. Conclusions Our results imply that heavy weightlifting is well tolerated by the PFM in short-term among young, nulliparous, and strength-trained women. Strength in whole-body exercises was not correlated to PFM strength.