Associations Between Running Mechanics, Functional Lower Extremity Strength, and Stress Urinary Incontinence in Parous Female Runners

Abstract

Background: Women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) may have altered running mechanics and reduced hip muscle strength compared with women without SUI. Little research has examined running metrics and functional lower extremity strength of parous runners. Objective: To determine whether SUI severity correlates with running metrics and lower extremity muscle strength among parous women. Study Design: This was a cross-sectional observational study of 22 parous participants (mean age 39.8 years, with a mean of 3.4 pregnancies and 8.1-year interval since last delivery). Methods: Participants completed the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire–Urinary Incontinence Short Form (ICIQ-UI), Urinary Distress Inventory-6 (UDI-6), Colorectal-Anal Distress (CRAD) Inventory-8, and Pelvic Organ Prolapse Distress Inventory-6 (POPDI-6), and Questionnaire for Urinary Incontinence Diagnosis (QUID) and provided demographic, relevant running, and obstetric/gynecologic history information. After a brief warm-up, participants completed 30-second single-leg sit-to-stand tests bilaterally and a standardized 10-minute treadmill run with pod cadence assessment. Pearson-product moment correlation coefficients were calculated (α = .05). Results: Prolonged ground contact times were associated with higher ICIQ-UI SF (r= 0.523, P= .015), POPDI-6 (r= 0.694, P< .001), and UDI-6 scores (r= 0.577, P= .006), while lower cadences were associated with higher POPDI-6 (r=−0.550, P= .010) and UDI-6 scores (r=−0.444, P= .044). Conclusions: Parous female runners with more severe SUI and prolapse symptoms demonstrate altered running mechanics characterized by prolonged ground contact times and slower cadences.