Influence of amateur futsal practice on pelvic floor muscle strength

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: In futsal athletes there is few information about the impact of intense ball training on pelvic floor muscles’ biomechanics. OBJECTIVE: to evaluate the influence of amateur futsal practice on pelvic floor muscle strength. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Cross-sectional, descriptive observational study of a quantitative nature with 10 amateur futsal athletes. A questionnaire on gynecological history and sports practice was applied. Physical examination with a perineometer demonstrated muscle contraction through the Sauer Scale. RESULTS: Average adult age of 27.0 ± 4.1 years, body mass index 23.9±3.3 kg/cm^2, the athletes had regular pelvic floor function (n =8, 80%), contraction time of the pelvic floor muscles 9.2 ± 1.6s, playing time 18.4±4.9. We found a moderate association between the pelvic floor muscles’ contraction time vs. playing time (r = -0.653; p = 0.040) and this finding was ratified by a simple linear regression analysis, where there is a 36% influence of the futsal practice on pelvic floor muscles’ strength. CONCLUSION: There is a direct influence of amateur futsal practice on pelvic floor muscles’ contraction force. It is essential to emphasize pelvic floor muscles’ importance in these athletes, since muscle weakness is a predisposing factor to the presence of urinary loss symptoms.