Sintomas de perda urinária em mulheres praticantes de handebol

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Urinary incontinence (UI) is a significant health condition that affects diverse populations, including athletes and women at different stages of life. Objective: this study aims to identify the prevalence of UI in women who play handball and investigate the association between urinary symptoms and sociodemographic variables and sports practice. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out with a quantitative approach. The sample consisted of 30 women who had been practicing handball for at least 6 months. Two instruments were used for data collection: a sociodemographic questionnaire and the “International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form” (ICIQ-SF) questionnaire. Results: Of the 30 participants, 36.7% reported urine loss and those who experience urine loss, 54.5% do so once a week or less and 81.8% notice that they lose a small amount of urine, while 18.2% % report losing a moderate amount. There was no association between urine loss and the other variables. Conclusion: In this study, UI was present in a mild to moderate form in 36.7% of the participants. Despite urinary loss being present, many of the women studied reported little interference from this event on their quality of life. Sports, including handball, are classified into risks according to the intensity of impact on the pelvic floor, influencing the onset of UI. The importance of continuing research on female athletes is highlighted, aiming to deepen our understanding of urinary incontinence and develop more effective and personalized interventions.