Athletes and fitness enthusiasts who perform high impact, high speed and high load activities

Athletes (such as gymnasts, trampolinists and runners) or people who play high impact sports (such as basketball, netball or running) are at increased risk of developing pelvic floor problems. This is because of the constant and excessive downward pressure that these sports place on their pelvic floor.

If you participate in very high load training (like weightlifting), high intensity interval training (like HIIT and Bootcamp), or other high intensity regimes, you may also be at increased risk of pelvic floor problems. This is particularly the case if you don’t activate your pelvic floor muscle, don’t activate your pelvic floor muscle correctly, or you are already at risk.

Incontinence (‘peeing yourself’) when doing these sorts of exercises may be common but is not normal. It is important to always activate your pelvic floor first.

If you are at increased risk of pelvic floor problems it is advisable to consider a pelvic floor safe exercise program to protect your pelvic floor from further damage. It is also important to see a continence professional for diagnosis, treatment and management.

For further information consult a continence professional or contact the National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66.

You may also want to see:

• Protect your pelvic floor – stay in control (for consumers)
• Promoting pelvic floor friendly exercise (for fitness professionals)
• Pelvic floor muscle training for women
• Pelvic floor muscle training for men
• Pelvic floor screening tool for women (for fitness professionals and download only)
• Pelvic floor screening tool for men (for fitness professionals and download only)