Comparison of Pelvic Floor Knowledge, Awareness and Symptoms in Female and Male Athletes

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine and compare pelvic floor knowledge, awareness and symptoms in male and female athletes from various sports branches. Materials and Method: A total of 80 individuals, including 47 female (26,4±3,6 age) and 33 male (28,2±5,5 age) athletes, were included in this study. The detailed medical histories of the athletes, as well as the sports branch, the age at which they started sports, and the time they took a break from sports were recorded. Online questionnaires were applied to assess participants' levels of pelvic floor awareness and symptoms, including the Pelvic Floor Knowledge and Awareness Assessment Form, the Pelvic Floor Health Knowledge Test (PFHKT), and the Global Pelvic Floor Bother Questionnaire (GPFBQ) which consist of function/dysfunction, risk/etiology, diagnosis and treatment. While the independent t-test was used to compare continuous data in female and male athletes, the between groups comparisons for categorical characteristics were analysed with the Chi-square test. Results: The percentage of correct answers to questions about pelvic floor knowledge and awareness was higher in female athletes than in male athletes. A significant difference was found between male and female athletes in the total (p<0,001) and function/dysfunction (p<0,001), risk/etiology (p=0,001), diagnosis and treatment (p=0,001) sub-dimensions of PFHKT. Moreover; a difference was found between female and male athletes in terms of pelvic floor symptoms compared to the total score obtained from GPFBQ (p=0,046). Conclusion: The level of knowledge and awareness of the pelvic floor and the level of pelvic floor discomfort were higher in female athletes than in male athletes. Since all athletes are at risk for pelvic floor problems, it is important to evaluate female and male athletes in detail and to provide treatment for the problems identified, to increase especially male athletes knowledge and awareness, in improving their pelvic health.

Keywords

• pelvic health
• pelvic floor symptoms
• athletes

Kadın ve Erkek Sporcularda Pelvik Taban Bilgisi, Farkındalığı ve Semptomlarının Karşılaştırılması

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışmanın amacı, çeşitli spor branşlarından kadın ve erkek sporcularda pelvik taban bilgi düzeyi, farkındalığı ve semptomlarını incelemek ve karşılaştırmaktı. Gereç ve Yöntem: Çalışmaya 47 kadın (26,4±3,6 yaş), 33 erkek (28,2±5,5 yaş) sporcu olmak üzere toplam 80 birey dahil edildi. Sporcuların detaylı tıbbi hikayeleri ile spor branşı, spora başlama yaşı, spora ara verdiği süre ile ilgili bilgileri kaydedildi. Bireylere, pelvik taban farkındalığı ve semptomlarını belirlemek için Pelvik Taban Bilgi ve Farkındalık Değerlendirme Formu, Pelvik Taban Sağlığı Bilgi Testi (PTSBT), fonksiyon/disfonksiyon, risk/etiyoloji, tanı ve tedavi alt boyutlarından oluşan Global Pelvik Taban Rahatsızlık Anketi (GPTRA) çevrimiçi olarak uygulandı. Kadın ve erkek sporcularda doğrusal verilerin karşılaştırılmasında Bağımsız Gruplar t-testi kullanılırken, kategorik özellikler için gruplar arası ilişkiler Ki-kare testi ile analiz edildi. Bulgular: Kadın sporcularda, pelvik taban bilgi ve farkındalığı ile ilgili sorulara verdikleri doğru cevap yüzdesi erkek sporculardan daha fazlaydı. Kadın ve erkek sporcular arasında PTSBT’nin toplam (p<0,001) ve fonksiyon/disfonksiyon (p<0,001) risk/etiyoloji (p=0,001), tanı ve tedavi (p=0,001) alt boyutlarında anlamlı bir fark bulundu. Ayrıca; kadın ve erkek sporcular arasında GPTRA’dan alınan toplam puana göre pelvik taban semptomları açısından fark bulundu (p=0,046). Sonuç: Kadın sporcularda, pelvik taban bilgi ve farkındalık seviyesi ile pelvik taban rahatsızlık düzeyinin erkek sporculardan daha yüksek olduğu bulundu. Tüm sporcular, pelvik taban problemleri açısından riskli olduğu için kadın ve erkek sporcuların bu açıdan ayrıntılı olarak değerlendirilmesi ve saptanan problemlerin tedavisinin sağlanması, özellikle erkek sporcularda bilgi ve farkındalık seviyelerinin artırılması sporcuların pelvik sağlığının iyileştirilmesinde önem taşımaktadır.

Keywords

• pelvik sağlık
• pelvik taban disfonksiyonu
• sporcular

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