Hip Angles, Joint Moments, and Muscle Activity During Gait in Women With and Without Self-reported Stress Urinary Incontinence

Abstract

Background: Women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) have different hip strength, mobility, and unique between-leg differences compared with women without SUI. This article describes gait biomechanics in these same women to provide insight into their function and neuromuscular system. Objective: To compare gait biomechanics between women with and without self-reported SUI. Study Design: Descriptive. Methods: Hip angles, moments (net forces), and muscle activity were analyzed during 3 phases of stance (weight acceptance [WA], mid-stance [MS], and terminal stance [TS]), using 3-dimensional cameras, force plates, and surface electromyography. Values were compared between groups (SUI, n = 21; no SUI, n = 20) and limbs (dominant, D; nondominant, ND) (significance: P ≤ .05). Results: Between-Group Comparisons: Both limbs in the SUI group had greater abduction (ABD) moments (WA: D: P = .039; ND: P = .030), external rotation (ER) moments (WA: D: P = .002, ND: P = .004; and MS: D: P = .033, ND: P = .035), and gluteus maximus activity (TS: D: P < .001, ND: P = .005). The SUI group's ND-limb had greater adduction angles (WA: P = .043), internal rotation (IR) angles (WA: P = .011; MS: P = .028), flexion (FL) moments (TS: P = .050), and tensor fasciae latae activity (TS: P = .044). The SUI group's D-limb had greater ABD moments (TS: P = .034). Between-Limb Comparisons Unique to Each Group: The SUI group's ND-limb had greater IR angles (WA: P = .007, MS: P = .032, TS: P = .027), relative lesser ER angles (MS: P = .003, TS: P = .007), and lesser FL angles (MS: P = .029). The without SUI group's ND-limb had greater ER moments (MS: P = .022). Conclusions: Women with SUI demonstrate unique gait mechanics, predominantly in the transverse plane and in the ND-limb. A video abstract for this article is available at: https://links.lww.com/JWHPT/A29.