Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence in CrossFit Practitioners before and during the COVID-19 Quarantine and its Relationship with Training Level: An Observational Study

Abstract

Objective To compare the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) before and during the COVID-19 quarantine in CrossFit women and their relationship with training level. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed among 197 women practicing CrossFit. The inclusion criteria were nulliparous women, between 18 and 45 years old, who had trained, before quarantine, in accredited gyms. The exclusion criteria were not following the COVID-19 prevention protocols and having UI on other occasions than just sport. An online questionnaire was emailed containing questions about frequency, duration, and intensity of training and data related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The participants were invited to answer whether they were infected with COVID-19 and what treatment/recommendation they have followed. Whether UI stopped among participants, they were asked about the possible reasons why this happened. The training intensity was categorized as “the same,” “decreased” or “increased.” Results The mean age of the participants was 32 years old and most (98.5%) could practice CrossFit during the pandemic. There was a decrease in training intensity in 64% of the respondents. Exercises with their own body weight, such as air squat (98.2%), were the most performed. Urinary incontinence was reported by 32% of the participants before the COVID-19 pandemic, and by only 14% of them during the pandemic (odds ratio [OR] = 0.32 [0.19–0.53]; p < 0.01; univariate analysis). Practitioners reported that the reason possibly related to UI improvement was the reduction of training intensity and not performing doubleunder exercise. Conclusion The reduction in the intensity of CrossFit training during the COVID-19 quarantine decreased the prevalence of UI among female athletes.

Physiological effects of regular CrossFit® training and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic—A systematic review

“…Included studies on COVID-19-pandemic-induced effects on the training behavior of CrossFit ® athletes are most of cross-sectional design. Three of the four observations use online surveys to examine participants’ training history and their self-reported changes during the pandemic period ( Redwood-Brown et al, 2021 ; Meier et al, 2022a ; Araujo et al, 2022 ). Another investigation aims to examine the effectiveness of a CrossFit ® program to mitigate the fitness deficits caused by COVID-19 prevention using a prospective, controlled intervention study of young adolescents ( Cataldi et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Another investigation aims to examine the effectiveness of a CrossFit ® program to mitigate the fitness deficits caused by COVID-19 prevention using a prospective, controlled intervention study of young adolescents ( Cataldi et al, 2021 ). In the studies, sample sizes range from 30 to 1,806 participants ( Cataldi et al, 2021 ; Redwood-Brown et al, 2021 ; Meier et al, 2022a ; Araujo et al, 2022 ), with one study including only female participants ( Araujo et al, 2022 ). The time span used for the surveys is the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic immediately following the outbreak.…”

“…From March 2020 to June of the same year, all studies collected their data during the first lockdown. The consequences of the restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic on the CrossFit ® sport are considered at this point from 3 countries in Europe (Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom) ( Cataldi et al, 2021 ; Redwood-Brown et al, 2021 ; Meier et al, 2022a ) and South America (Brazil) ( Araujo et al, 2022 ). The impact of the first lockdown in Germany on the use of digital sports offers, training habits, body weight changes, and purchase of sports equipment of CrossFit ® and weightlifting athletes was considered by Meier et al (2022a) .…”

“…Nevertheless, a decrease in training intensity was noted in 64% of the respondents, as shown by bodyweight exercises, such as air squats (98.2%) were mostly performed. Thus, the authors concluded that the forced reduction of training intensity led to a decrease in the prevalence of urinary incontinence among female athletes ( Araujo et al, 2022 ). Furthermore, the purpose of the study by Redwood-Brown et al was to establish whether habitual CrossFit ® participation is associated with lower body mass index (BMI) values during the United Kingdom’s nationwide lockdown and to further investigate how habitually trained CrossFit ® athletes to perceive their COVID-19 susceptibility.…”

“…So, the presented data provide for the first time a detailed insight into how the athletes dealt during the COVID-19 lockdown and quarantine period. Special mention deserves the finding that despite the massive restrictions, the CrossFit ® athletes be able to continue their training and, in part, were able to promote health aspects by improving body composition ( Meier et al, 2022a ), reducing UI ( Araujo et al, 2022 ), and maintaining wellbeing ( Redwood-Brown et al, 2021 ). It is also evident that practicing CrossFit ® at an affiliated training center entails more than just fitness training.…”