Self-Assessment of the Pelvic Floor by Women Practicing Recreational Horseback Riding.

Monika Urbowicz,Mariola Saulicz,Edward Saulicz,Aleksandra Saulicz

doi:10.3390/ijerph19042108

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the condition of the pelvic floor in women who are involved in regular recreational horseback riding, with both physically active women as well as women not undertaking any recreational physical activity. Taking into account horseback riding and physical activity, 140 healthy women aged 17 to 61 were divided into three groups: women practicing horseback riding (WPHR) (46 persons), physically active women (PAW) (47 persons) and women not physically active (WNPA) (47 persons). The Australian Pelvic Floor Questionnaire (APFQ) was used to measure the extent of pelvic floor dysfunctions in women from all three groups. The lowest average values were found in the group of women practicing recreational horseback riding, and the highest in the group of women not physically active (95% CI: 0.61–1.15 vs. 0.87–1.44 —bladder scores; 0.82–1.32 vs. 1.24–1.8—bowel scores; 0.07–0.33 vs. 0.08–0.35—prolapse of reproductive organs scores; 0.4–1.07 vs. 0.49–1.3—sexual function). Statistically significant intergroup differences were recorded only for the bowel function rate (p = 0.021). The overall pelvic floor dysfunction rate in the WPHR group was lower when compared with both control groups (95% CI: 2.15–3.62 vs. 2.34–3.54 in women from PAW group and vs. 3.0–4.56 in women from WNPA group). Based on this study, it can be concluded that all of the pelvic floor related symptoms, their frequency, and severity levels do not qualify recreational horseback riding as being a risk factor for developing pelvic floor dysfunction in women.

Highlights

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in horseback riding as a form of leisure and recreational activity for women in Poland
Taking into account the horseback riding and physical activity, the analyzed women were divided into three groups: women practicing horseback riding (WPHR), physically active women (PAW) and women not physically active (WNPA)
The position of the hock joints of the surveyed women during horseback riding may be crucial for bladder function, as according to Lee [25], the foot dorsiflexion is accompanied by the activation of an anterior tilt of the pelvis and pelvic floor muscles, which leads to an increased pelvic floor tension

Summary

Introduction

There has been an increasing interest in horseback riding as a form of leisure and recreational activity for women in Poland. The PEF development strategy of Polish equestrianism 2019–2022 [1] states that the actual number of equestrian clubs in Poland is at least twice as high. This data corresponds with the data from the Polish Horse. In 2014, recreational equestrian activities were estimated to be practiced by 95,000 people [3], which, based on the growth dynamics of equestrian centers, could have increased by 20% by 2020 Equestrian activities such as sport horseback riding in Poland are heavily feminized. According to the Polish Equestrian Federation, 84% of the competitors in all equestrian disciplines are women [4]

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Conclusion