Influence of anthropometric variables on pelvic floor muscular strength in Urinary Incontinence

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Urinary Incontinence (UI) is defined as any involuntary loss of urine, weight gain and high circumference measures are risk factors for UI symptoms development. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of anthropometric variables on the pelvic floor muscular strength of women with UI. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Cross-sectional study with convenience sample. Data were collected during anamnesis and after obtaining anthropometric variables, pelvic floor functional evaluation (PFE) was done. A Spearman correlation was performed and to evaluate anthropometrics variables’ influence on PFE we did a multiple linear regression. RESULTS: 12 volunteers with UI were evaluated, mean age of 56.9±13.2 years with a frequency of 10 (83.3%) with stress urinary incontinence. Moderate and negative correlations between anthropometrics variables and PFE were found [Body mass index (BMI) vs PFE (r= -0,582 p=0,020); Waist circumference (WC) vs PFE (r= -0.567 p=0.033); Hip circumference (HC) vs PFE (r= -0.593 p=0.050); Abdominal circumference (AC) vs PFE (r= -0.657 p=0.001)]. The correlations findings can be ratified through a multiple linear regression analysis, where there is a direct influence of 37% of BMI and AC on PFE in the volunteers with UI. CONCLUSION: Higher values of the anthropometric measures are directly related to a worse performance on PFE, High VA values are directly related to poor performance in AFA in women with urinary incontinence.