Incontinence Quiz: Translation, validation, and reproducibility in Portuguese women.

AIM: The purpose of the present study was to translate and validate the Incontinence Quiz (IQ) questionnaire into a Portuguese version. METHODS: The Portuguese version of the 14-item Incontinence Quiz was prepared following translation and back-translation procedures and was tested on a pilot group of 10 women. Internal consistency (Cronbach's α), test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient [ICC]), and construct validity (using two indicators: education level and being a qualified health professional) were assessed in 141 women from the staff of two higher education institutions. Participant's socio-demographic characteristics were collected by questionnaire. RESULTS: The translation and back-translation process was performed without constraints. Cronbach's α ranged from 0.696 (Item 13) to 0.748 (Item 6), and global Chronbach's α was .740. ICC values for the IQ total score were .78, .57, and .79 for correct, wrong, and do not know answers, respectively. Both economic indicators were positively associated with the percentage of correct answers. CONCLUSIONS: Validity and reliability of the translated Portuguese IQ were achieved which will allow the comparison of results with studies in other cultures.

Urinary incontinence and disordered eating in female elite athletes.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between urinary incontinence and disordered eating, in elite female athletes. DESIGN: This cross-sectional study included 744 young and healthy Portuguese women: 372 elite athletes and 372 age-matched non-athletes, mean age 21±5.3years. METHODS: Data regarding clinical, demographic, and sport practice characteristics were collected by questionnaire. The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence-Short Form was applied to identify urinary incontinence. The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire was applied to identify disordered eating. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were used to estimate the association between UI and disordered eating. RESULTS: The prevalence of urinary incontinence in athletes and non-athletes was 29.3% and 13.4%, p<0.001, respectively. No difference in prevalence of disordered eating was found between athletes (17.7%) and non-athletes (20.2%), p=0.435. Urinary incontinence was associated with disordered eating only in the athletes. After adjustment for age, type of sport, smoking and alcohol intake, athletes with disordered eating presented increased odds of urinary incontinence of any type over athletes without disordered eating (OR=3.09; 95% CI: 1.74-5.50). CONCLUSIONS: Athletes with disordered eating were three times more likely to present urinary incontinence than women without disordered eating. There is a need for further studies to elaborate on mechanisms for this association.

Association Between Physical Activity Level and Pelvic Floor Muscle Variables in Women.

In order to investigate the potential impact of physical activity (PA) on pelvic floor muscle (PFM) function, a cross-sectional study was made to analyse the association between PA level and vaginal resting pressure (VRP) and PFM strength and endurance. Thirty-eight continent women and 20 women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) aged 19 to 49 years were enrolled in the study. PFM variables were assessed by manometry. The PA level was assessed through the International Physical Activity Questionnaire - Short Form. The International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence - Short Form was applied to identify SUI. Pearson's correlation coefficients were applied to estimate the association between PA and PFM variables. Incontinent women were classified as having a high PA level compared to the continent ones (65.0% vs 34.2%, respectively; p=0.030). There was a positive weak association between PA and VRP in continent (r=0.377) and an inverse association in incontinent women (r=-0.458). No associations were found between PA and PFM strength and endurance. Further studies are needed in order to identify a causal association between PA and SUI.

Performing high-level sport is strongly associated with urinary incontinence in elite athletes: a comparative study of 372 elite female athletes and 372 controls.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI) in female elite athletes compared with controls and to investigate potential risk factors for UI among elite athletes. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 372 elite athletes (athletes group, AG) and 372 age-matched controls (control group, CG). The median age was low (19 years) and the vast majority were nulliparous. Potential risk factors, including clinical, demographic and sports practice characteristics, were collected by using a questionnaire. The International Consultation on Urinary Incontinence Questionnaire-Urinary Incontinence-Short Form was applied to estimate the prevalence of UI. OR with 95% CIs were used to estimate the association with UI. The final model was adjusted for constipation, family history of UI and history of urinary infection. RESULTS: The prevalence of UI was 29.6% and 13.4% in AG and CG, respectively (p<0.001). The following prevalences were obtained: AG: 19.6% and CG: 3.5% (p<0.001) for stress UI, AG: 3.8% and CG: 5.4% (p=0.292) for urgency UI and AG: 5.9% and CG: 0.8% (p<0.001) for mixed UI. After adjustment, performing high-level sport (adjusted (adj) OR=3.31; 95% CI 2.20 to 4.97), family history of UI (adj OR=1.54; 95% CI 1.04 to 2.29), history of urinary infection (adj OR=1.53; 95% CI 1.05 to 2.23) and constipation (adj OR=1.79; 95% CI 1.07 to 2.98) were associated with UI. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of UI among Portuguese female elite athletes is high and the odds of UI were three times higher than in controls. Also, constipation, family history of UI and history of urinary infections were significantly associated with UI.

Reeducation of pelvic floor muscles in volleyball athletes / Reeducação dos músculos do pavimento pélvico em atletas de voleibol

Objective: to verify the effectiveness of the pelvic floor muscles rehabilitation program (PFMRP) in female volleyball athletes, analyzing the amount and frequency of urinary leakage. Methods: experimental study. The sample consisted of 32 female athletes from Famalicão Athletic Volleyball Club (Portugal). The athletes were selected by convenience and distributed randomly into two groups: experimental group (EG = 16 athletes) and the control group (CG = 16 athletes). The EG underwent PFMRP for three months. The PFMRP was the awareness and identification of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM), pre-timed PFM contraction prior to occasions of increased intra-abdominal pressure, and 30 daily contractions of MPP at home. The CG had only access to the pamphlet. The assessment instruments included the questionnaires, the Pad Test (amount of urinary leakage) and frequency record of urinary leakage (7-day diary) before and after PFMRP. Results: the amount of urine leakage decreased in 45.5% of athletes under PFMRP intervention, and in 4.9% of athletes in CG, with statistical differences between the groups (p < 0.001). The reduction in the frequency of urinary leakage was 14.3% in EG, and 0.05% in CG, a statistically significant difference between the groups (p < 0.001). Conclusion: PFMRP in this study was effective to reduce stress urinary incontinence in female volleyball athletes. The program allowed significant improvement of symptoms of quantity and frequency of urinary leakage. .

Objetivo: verificar a eficácia do programa de reeducação dos músculos do pavimento pélvico (PRMPP) em atletas femininas de voleibol, analisando a quantidade e a frequência das perdas urinárias. Métodos: estudo experimental. A amostra foi constituída por 32 atletas do sexo feminino do Atlético Voleibol Clube de Famalicão (Portugal). As atletas foram selecionadas por conveniência e distribuídas aleatoriamente em dois grupos: o grupo experimental (GE = 16 atletas) e o grupo-controle (GC = 16 atletas). O GE foi submetido ao PRMPP durante 3 meses; o programa consistiu na conscientização e identificação dos músculos do pavimento pélvico (MPP), na pré-contração dos MPP ao aumento da pressão intra-abdominal, e em 30 contrações diárias dos MPP no domicílio. O GC teve acesso unicamente ao panfleto. Os instrumentos de avaliação englobaram os questionários, o pad-test (quantidade de perda urinária) e o PRMPP. Resultados: a quantidade de perda urinária diminuiu 45,5% no GE, com intervenção do PRMPP, e 4,9% nas atletas do GC, verificando-se diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os grupos (p<0,001). Na frequência das perdas urinárias, a redução foi de 14,3% no GE e de 0,05% no GC, verificando-se diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os grupos (p<0,001). Conclusão: o PRMPP, nessa amostra, foi eficaz na incontinência urinária de esforço em atletas do sexo feminino de voleibol, pois permitiu melhorar significativamente os sintomas de quantidade e frequência das perdas urinárias. .