Urinary incontinence among competitive rope-skipping athletes: a cross-sectional study

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, impact and management of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) among rope-skipping (RS) athletes.

A cross-sectional observational study was employed. Survey #1 (current athletes): RS athletes aged ≥13 years attending a national RS competition (183) were invited to participate. The primary outcome was the prevalence of SUI during RS (yes/no question). Secondary outcomes included SUI interference with RS (Likert scale, 0–10), quality of life (ICIQ-SF), and the prevalence and bothersomeness of SUI for each RS event (un-validated sport-specific questionnaire inspired by the IIQ-7). Survey #2 (retired athletes): retired RS athletes were invited to complete an online questionnaire to identify whether SUI contributed to their retirement from RS.

Survey #1: 56% (103 out of 183) of athletes responded. Athletes were predominantly girls of adolescent age, normal weight, menarchal, and nulliparous. Seventy-five percent of the girls (67 out of 89) and 7% of boys (1 out of 14) reported SUI during RS, mostly when competing “double-unders” and “triple-unders.” Twenty-one percent (14 out of 67) of affected girls indicated a moderate or greater interference of SUI with RS, although the median impact of SUI on their overall quality of life was slight. Female athletes managed SUI with containment products, fluid limitation, and timed voiding. Survey #2: one of the 77 respondents (74 females, 3 males) indicated that SUI contributed to their retirement from RS.

Similar to other high-impact sports, female RS athletes experience a relatively high rate of SUI while participating in RS, which may lead to decreased quality of life.