In the 2016 Olympics it was found that 100% of the French Olympic gymnastics team experienced stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and avoided drinking fluids to avoid leaking during competition. Just as alarmingly, none had previously mentioned their incontinence to their doctors or coaches.

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is an often overlooked but it is a significant issue that affects many elite female athletes. This condition, characterized by the involuntary leakage of urine during physical activities that increases intra-abdominal pressure, can have a profound impact on an athlete's performance, training, confidence, and overall quality of life. This blog post explores the prevalence of SUI among elite female athletes, important statistics for all female athletes, and conservative treatment options, including Flyte, an innovative device providing surgical-level treatment with a fast, convenient, at-home pelvic floor treatment device.

Prevalence of Stress Urinary Incontinence in Elite Female Athletes

Female athletes are at a 177% greater risk for SUI compared to inactive women due to the intense physical demands placed on their bodies. The prevalence of SUI in this group is surprisingly high, with studies indicating that anywhere from 28% to 80% of female athletes may experience symptoms, depending on the sport and population studied.

High-impact sports, defined as sports with jumping and running, are particularly associated with a higher incidence of SUI. The repetitive jumping, sprinting, and other high-intensity movements involved in these sports place considerable stress on the pelvic floor muscles, leading to weakness and dysfunction over time. This is also true for sports that involve heavy lifting or sudden bursts of force, which can exacerbate the pressure on the pelvic region.

A new systematic review has identified the 8 sports with the highest prevalence of urinary incontinence among female high-impact athletes as follows:

Additional sports shown in research at high risk of UI include gymnastics, hockey, ballet, and aerobics.

Female competitive weightlifters also experience a high risk for stress urinary incontinence. Research finds between 32-44% of competitive women weightlifters/powerlifters experience urinary incontinence, most provoked by the deadlift and squat. Interestingly, the number of years a woman strength trains or weightlifts is not correlated to the complaint of urinary incontinence. Women who were confident in performing their pelvic floor exercises experienced less urinary incontinence.

Age, amount of training per week, and number of children was found to be correlated to incontinence for female athletes, especially in high-impact sports. Additional contributing factors for urinary incontinence in elite female athletes include pelvic floor laxity, bladder neck descent, pelvic floor muscle fatigue, low energy availability, and hypermobility syndrome. Urinary incontinence negatively affects female athletes’ quality of life and early intervention is imperative.

Important Statistics on SUI in Female Athletes

• Nulliparous Female Athletes: While pregnancy is a common risk factor, studies show up to 80% of young female athletes that have not given birth (nulliparous) experience SUI.
  • One review found the prevalence of UI even in adolescent female athletes to be between 18% to 80% (average of 48.58%), predominately in trampolining followed by rope skipping.

• Impact on Performance: SUI can significantly impact an athlete's performance and mental health.
• A study published in the International Urogynecology Journal reveals that 83% of female gymnasts and cheerleaders with SUI report that it negatively affects their performance, with 22% avoiding specific exercises or training to prevent leakage, and 28% wearing pads for protection.
• When female athletes with urinary incontinence reduce fluids to reduce leakage leading to dehydration, it may reduce athletic performance as well as being potentially dangerous.
• With urinary incontinence linked to more than double the rate of severe depression, identifying risk factors can help identify and support the mental health of elite athletes.

• Lack of Awareness and Underreporting: Many athletes do not report their symptoms due to embarrassment or the misconception that SUI is a normal part of intense training.
• In the same study from the International Urogynecology Journal, 41% of female athletes had never heard of the pelvic floor muscles and 74% reported an interest in learning about pelvic floor muscle training to prevent and treat incontinence.
• Another study found of the nearly 60% of female athletes experiencing stress urinary incontinence, 61.4% did not have UI before starting their sport. Even more alarmingly, only 9.4% sought treatment, highlighting the need for greater awareness, education, and screening.
• With women in general delaying treatment for SUI for over a decade, we cannot overstate the significant need for awareness and education on such a common yet treatable issue.

Conservative Treatment Options for SUI in Female Athletes

Here are some of the best treatment options supported by current research:

1. Flyte At-Home Pelvic Floor Treatment: Flyte is an innovative, clinically proven, pelvic floor device designed to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles efficiently and effectively, treating bladder leaks easily from home. Flyte is easy to use and since it only requires 5 min/day can be easily incorporated into your daily routine without disrupting your schedule.
2. Pelvic Floor Muscle Training (PFMT): PFMT, commonly known as Kegel exercises, is historically the gold standard first-line treatment for SUI. These exercises aim to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, improving their ability to support the bladder, bladder neck, and prevent leakage. Female athletes need to be educated on how to contract and relax their pelvic floor muscles correctly to enhance pelvic floor function and stop urinary incontinence.
3. Managing Intra-abdominal Pressure: Coordinate your breath with your movements. For instance, exhale during the exertion phase (e.g., lifting, jumping) and inhale during the relaxation phase. This helps to reduce pressure on the pelvic floor and thus reduce urinary incontinence. Think of the mantras “Exhale on Exertion” or “Blow Before You Go.”
4. Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy: Specialized physical therapy that focuses on the pelvic floor, core, and whole body can be very beneficial. Research published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research on the prevalence and normalization of SUI in female strength athletes found pelvic floor physical therapy to be an effective treatment for SUI in both athletes and nonathletes but only 8.3% of female athletes tried pelvic floor physical therapy for their SUI. These programs often include a combination of PFMT, breathing and coordination, hip and core strengthening and stabilization exercises, and many other techniques to improve posture, alignment, and body awareness.

Why Flyte is an Effective Solution for Female Athletes

Flyte is a groundbreaking device designed to treat SUI effectively and conveniently. Flyte offers a user-friendly, at-home solution that fits seamlessly into an athlete's lifestyle. Here’s why Flyte stands out:

1. Clinically Proven: Flyte's effectiveness is backed by published clinical research. In clinical trial, 82% of women using Flyte were continent in just 6 weeks with some seeing results in as little as 2 weeks. This evidence supports the device's ability to provide real, tangible treatment for athletes dealing with SUI.
2. Faster Results: Flyte’s research found the mechanotherapy advantage of Flyte to be 39x more effective than the gold standard treatment of pelvic floor muscle training. This means you see faster results when you treat with Flyte.  
3. Convenience: Flyte is designed for home use and requires only 5 minutes per day, making it easy for busy athletes to incorporate into their routine. This convenience is a significant advantage over traditional PFMT or physical therapy, which requires dedication and consistency to be effective. Flyte's short usage time allows athletes to treat their SUI symptoms without sacrificing valuable training time.
4. Non-Invasive: Flyte offers a non-invasive alternative to surgical treatments with clinical results comparable to surgery without surgery. This non-invasive approach is ideal for athletes who want to avoid the risks and recovery time associated with surgical procedures.
5. Long-term Results: Flyte’s mechanism of action, mechanotherapy, not only addresses the symptoms of SUI but also helps facilitate durable neuromuscular memory, providing a long-term solution to urinary incontinence. By improving pelvic floor muscle function, Flyte helps athletes achieve better bladder control and reduces the likelihood of future leakage episodes.

Conclusion

Stress urinary incontinence is a prevalent issue among elite female athletes, affecting their performance, confidence, training, and overall quality of life. Understanding the prevalence and impact of SUI, as well as the best treatment options, is crucial for effectively treating urinary incontinence. Flyte offers a fast, clinically proven, convenient, and at-home solution that empowers athletes to regain control and continue excelling in their sport. If you or someone you know is struggling with SUI, consider exploring Flyte as a part of your treatment plan. By addressing this issue head-on, athletes can improve their quality of life, enhance their performance, and maintain their confidence in and out of their sport.

References

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