Infographic. Having pelvic health conversations within sports settings

Abstract

Symptoms of pelvic floor (PF) dysfunction are highly prevalent in female athletes at all levels of sports participation.1 One in three women across all sports experience symptoms such as leaking urine, wind or stool including up to 80% of women participating in high-impact sports or heavy lifting.1 2 In female para-athletes, 28% across all sports experience urinary incontinence.3 One in two women who experience symptoms of PF dysfunction during sport or exercise stop participating in the form of activity.4 Women also report PF symptoms that substantially impact training and performance including reducing training load, avoiding high-impact activities and distraction during competition.2 4 Health and exercise professionals are ideally placed to raise awareness of pelvic health and provide opportunities for symptom disclosure. However, approximately 75% of Australian health and exercise professionals do not screen female athletes for symptoms of PF dysfunction as part of their current practice.5 Among women attending fitness clubs in Oslo, only 8% had received any information on PF muscle training during 12 months …