Contin-RUN Study: Prevalence and Conservative Treatment of Urinary Incontinence in Female Runners
This study comprises two phases, each with distinct objectives. The first phase aims to investigate the prevalence of urinary incontinence and other pelvic floor dysfunctions in Brazilian female runners through structured questionnaires. The second phase aims to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of three different exercise regimens for the treatment of urinary incontinence in female runners. The intervention groups include: a) pelvic floor muscle training combined with abdominal training, b) hypopressive abdominal exercises, and c) pelvic floor muscle training alone. The primary outcome measure is the severity of urinary incontinence, which will be assessed using the adapted 1-hour pad test and a 3-day bladder diary. Secondary outcomes include symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction and pelvic floor muscle function. The intervention will last for 12 weeks, after which participants will be reassessed to determine which training regimen is most effective in treating urinary incontinence in female runners.
• Participants must have been running for at least six months
• Run at least 15 kilometers per week,
• Have no injuries that have prevented them from running for more than three weeks in the past six months
• Experience involuntary urinary leakage during running
• The women must have a pelvic floor muscle strength of ≥ 2 on the modified Oxford scale