Abstract
Urinary Incontinence (UI) is defined as any involuntary urinary loss. The relationship between physical activity and UI is undefined and bidirectional, where UI can cause physical inactivity and vice versa. The aim of this study was to verify and compare the level of physical activity with frequency and severity of urinary incontinence in older women. The study included 19 older women with stress or mixed UI. Data on the frequency and severity of UI were collected through the ICIQ-SF and the level of physical activity through triaxial accelerometer GT3-X brand ActiGrafh, used for seven consecutive days. Descriptive (mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentage) and inferential statistics (Mann-Whitney or way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc) was used. The majority of patients (n = 17; 89.5%) reported losing a small amount of urine. There was no difference between level of habitual physical activity and severity of UI (U = 6.000, p = 0.144). Regarding the frequency of urinary loss, 42.1% (n = 8) reported losing urine two or three times a week, 31.6% (n = 6) once a day or more and 26.3% (n = 5) once a week or less. Patients with more frequent urinary losses had lower levels of physical activity (F = 6.050; p = 0.011). In relation to the effect size, 43.1% of the variability of levels of PA can be explained by the frequency of urinary loss. It was concluded that the frequency of daily urinary loss is related to low levels of physical activity in older women.
Highlights
With the aging process, some changes occur in the female pelvic floor, especially reduced capacity of contracting the muscles of the perineal region[1]
Studies that relate urinary incontinence (UI) and the practice of physical activity (PA) or physical exercises indicate that impact activities such as gymnastics and ballet may increase the prevalence of the disease[9] and damage the pelvic floor structures[10]
19 older women with stress or mixed urinary incontinence with frequency of urinary loss of at least once a month and who live in the region of Florianópolis, SC participated in this study
Summary
Some changes occur in the female pelvic floor, especially reduced capacity of contracting the muscles of the perineal region[1]. These changes contribute to the prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI), which affects approximately 30% of the elderly population of several countries such as United States[2], Spain[3] Norway[4] and Brazil[5]. Other studies claim that the practice of moderate physical activity can minimize the reduction in the strength of pelvic floor muscles[11] or even reduce the occurrence of UI with increasing age[12]
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