Pelvic Floor Knowledge and Dysfunctions in Female Athletes: Associations With Physical Activity, Demographic Characteristics, and Sports Profile
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 已完成
- 发起方
- 入组人数
- 127
- 试验地点
- 1
- 主要终点
- Demographic Information Assessment
研究概览
简要总结
The pelvic floor is a complex structure composed of bones, connective tissue, muscles, and nerves that supports the pelvic organs and provides voluntary control and resting tone of the sphincters. Closely related to continence, sexual function, core stabilization, and posture, the pelvic floor muscles-particularly the levator ani with its type 1 and type 2 fibers-ensure both resting tone and rapid responses to sudden increases in intra-abdominal pressure. In women, pelvic floor dysfunctions (including urinary and anal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, defecatory and sexual dysfunctions) occur especially during pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause and adversely affect quality of life. Recently, research on pelvic floor muscles and dysfunctions in female athletes has grown, with competing hypotheses suggesting that these muscles may be strong yet overloaded and weakened due to excessive training. Sports that increase intra-abdominal pressure, such as running, weightlifting, and gymnastics, may stress the pelvic floor and elevate dysfunction risk. Various studies have shown high prevalences of urinary and anal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse in athletes, alongside generally low pelvic floor awareness. However, few studies have examined the relationship between physical activity level, type, and duration with pelvic floor dysfunction and awareness together. The present study aims to investigate the effects of physical activity, demographic characteristics, and sporting experience on pelvic floor dysfunctions and pelvic floor knowledge in female athletes.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Observational
- 观察模型
- Cohort
- 时间视角
- Prospective
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 16 Years 至 40 Years（Child, Adult）
- 性别
- Female
- 接受健康志愿者
- 是
入选标准
- •Women aged 16-40 years who are literate
- •Engaged in any sport, training at least 1 hour per session, at least 3 days per week
排除标准
- •Having cooperation problems preventing completion of the questionnaires
- •History of neurological disease
- •History of urogynecological surgery
结局指标
主要结局
Demographic Information Assessment
时间窗: enrollment
Participants included in the study will be asked about their age, height, weight, education level, type of sport, years of sporting experience, and history of surgery and illness. They will then be asked to respond to questions, based on a diagram created by the researchers, regarding the location of the pelvic floor, the functions of the pelvic floor muscles, and whether they have experienced pelvic floor-related problems during training. All information will be recorded in the patient tracking form.
Pelvic Floor Health Knowledge Level
时间窗: enrollment
Participants' knowledge of pelvic floor health will be assessed using the Pelvic Floor Health Knowledge Test developed by Al-Deges (2019), which aims to measure individuals' knowledge regarding pelvic floor problems. This questionnaire consists of 29 items designed to evaluate knowledge of pelvic floor function and dysfunction. Items 1-8 address pelvic floor function and dysfunction, items 9-21 cover risk factors and etiology, and items 22-29 pertain to diagnosis and treatment. Participants will be asked to answer each item by selecting "yes," "no," or "don't know." The validity and reliability of the questionnaire have been supported by previous studies.
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
时间窗: enrollment
Participants' pelvic floor dysfunctions will be assessed using the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20 (PFDI-20). This scale is designed to evaluate all symptoms related to pelvic floor disorders and the severity of the distress they cause. The PFDI-20 consists of 20 items across three subscales, with responses scored from 0 (not at all) to 4 (quite a bit). Subscale scores are calculated by averaging the responses for each subscale and multiplying by 25, resulting in a score range of 0 to 100 per subscale, and a total score ranging from 0 to 300. The Turkish validity and reliability of the scale were established by Çelenay et al. (2012).
Physical Activity Level
时间窗: enrollment
Participants' physical activity levels will be assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form (IPAQ-SF). The IPAQ-SF is a widely used, self-reported, valid, and reliable tool designed to determine individuals' physical activity levels over the past seven days. The questionnaire consists of seven items and evaluates walking, moderate, and vigorous physical activities, as well as daily sitting time. It aims to determine the duration and frequency of these activities during the week. Data will be converted into MET (Metabolic Equivalent - MET minutes/week) values for analysis. Based on the total MET score, participants' physical activity levels will be classified as low, moderate, or high. The validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the IPAQ-SF have been established by Sağlam et al. (2010).
次要结局
未报告次要终点
研究者
Berivan Beril Kılıç
Assistant Professor
Biruni University