Contin-RUN Study: Urinary Incontinence in Female Runners

Summary

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.

Conditions

• Urinary Incontinence

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Pelvic floor and abdominal training

Participants in this group will undergo 12 weeks of in-person training, with supervision by a specialist physical therapist, in groups of up to four women. The training will take place after an initial evaluation and will consist of 24 sessions, held twice a week. Exercises will target both the pelvic floor muscles and the abdominal muscles. The exercises will be divided into three phases, with progressively increasing difficulty each month. The progression will be achieved by increasing the load, the number of repetitions, and the complexity of the exercises.

BEHAVIORAL

Abdominal Hypopressive Technique Exercises

Participants in this group will perform Hypopressive Abdominal Gymnastics exercises as proposed by Marcel Caufriez (1997). The training will last 12 weeks and be conducted in person, with supervision by a specialist physical therapist, in groups of up to four women. The training will take place after an initial evaluation and will consist of 24 sessions, held twice a week. The exercises will be divided into three phases, with progressively increasing difficulty each month. Progression will be achieved by changing body positions, increasing the number of repetitions, and extending the duration of inspiratory apnea.

OTHER

Pelvic floor muscle training

Participants in this group will undergo 12 weeks of in-person training, supervised by a specialist physical therapist, in groups of up to four women. Specific exercises targeting the pelvic floor muscles will be performed, with voluntary and maximal contractions, without involving other muscle groups. The exercises will be divided into three phases, with progressively increasing difficulty each month. Progression will be achieved by increasing the load (transitioning from gravitational to antigravitational positions), increasing the number of repetitions, and combining sustained and rapid contractions to enhance the difficulty of execution.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Federal University of Uberlandia

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2024-09-20

Primary Completion

2026-01-10

Completion

2026-03-10

Countries

• Brazil

Study Locations