The pelvic floor muscles contract more readily when sneezing, coughing, or other efforts such as running, jumping, and quick starts. This is mainly due to the sudden increase in intra-abdominal pressure. This unexpected contraction sometimes leads tourinary incontinence, which is defined according to the International Continence Society (ICS) by “ the complaint of any involuntary leakage of urine »¹. This type of urinary incontinence can occur from the age of 15, during physical education classes at school: nearly half of women admit to having experienced urinary leaks during their sports practice.². The risk would however vary according to the sport practiced. When running or jumping high, for example, the pressure of gravity is exerted on the pelvic floor, especially as the abdominal muscles are toned. Physical exercises that cause repeated jumps add additional pressure that can be multiplied by 10. It is therefore the imbalance between an abdominal strap that is too powerful compared to a perineal floor that is not very muscular that promotes leakage of effort, and not the. No one should be doing intense abdominal exercises without strengthening the perineal muscles.^{3, 4.}

Which sports to choose?

If the imbalances between the abdominal wall and the perineal floor are resolved, any physical activity is possible. However, it often happens that urinary incontinence results from several different factors (related to drugs, pregnancy or age for example). For people already at risk, there are some sports that are more advisable than others.

The prevalence of leaks in athletic women varies between 0% for golf and 80% for the trampoline. From a synthesis of several studies, we can classify the different sports activities into 3 categories:

High risk sports 

• trampoline
• acrobatic gymnastics
• aerobics
• athletics (hurdles, high jumps, triple jump)
•  riding
• basketball
• handball
• running
• Martial Arts
• volleyball
• badminton
• dance
• aerobics
• high jump, long jump

Moderate risk sports

• tennis
• ski
• skateboard
• hockey
• great hike
• yoga

Low risk sports

• marche
• swimming
• cycling
• golf
• Rollerball

The risk of urinary incontinence depends on the sport but also on the level of intensity of practice. Researchers have shown that the average activity level played a role in the occurrence of incontinence: in female students during physical education classes, the risk was greater in female students practicing a sport activity outside of the classroom. school⁸. Leaks occur mostly in the second part of a session or competition, which would testify to a certain fatigue du perineum à the effort⁹.

May top-level sportswomen be reassured! Several researchers have also shown that the practice of a high-level sport, and a fortiori of a high-risk sport, does not significantly increase the risk of developing long-term incontinence.¹⁰.

On the other hand, more age The greater the risk of experiencing an episode of stress incontinence. 50% of women over 65 admit having such an episode in the event of a risky practice. Vaginal delivery and the birth weight of children are also linked to this risk: sportswomen with more than 3 children are more prone than those with only one child.¹¹.

Finally, young sportswomen who seek to combine intensive physical activity and calorie restriction for silhouette concerns, you should know that the risk of it is considerably increased.