Research shows that women experiencing pelvic floor symptoms like urinary incontinence may reduce or even stop their participation in sport and exercise but a study by researchers in Victoria has shown that screening and education may help them access the help they need to keep going.

The Physiotherapy Research Foundation (PRF) has summarised key messages from the research study’s findings featured in the June edition of InMotion and produced this infographic. 

Click on the image below to access a printable A3 file. 

This infographic is a Physiotherapy Research  Foundation (PRF) initiative. 
>> References available 

About the authors

Dr Jodie Dakic APAM is a Senior Lecturer at Monash University and a practicing physiotherapist in the field of pelvic floor physiotherapy and sports. Her research focuses on pelvic health in exercising women and female athletes.

Professor Jean Hay-Smith is Professor of Rehabilitation at Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka (University of Otago) in Aotearoa (New Zealand); did work as a physiotherapist in women’s health; and is internationally known for expertise in pelvic floor muscle training evidence generation and synthesis.

Assistant Professor Kuan-Yin Lin is assistant professor at the School and Graduate Institute of Physical Therapy at National Taiwan University (NTU), an adjunct physical therapist at NTU Hospital, and a committee member of the International Affairs Committee of the Taiwan Physical Therapy Association. Dr Lin possesses extensive academic and research expertise in pelvic floor physical therapy, women's health, and cancer rehabilitation.  

Professor Jill Cook is Emeritus Professor of physiotherapy in the La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre at La Trobe University in Melbourne Australia.

Associate Professor Helena Frawley is Associate Professor in Women’s Health Physiotherapy at University of Melbourne, and Director of Allied Health Research Royal Women’s Hospital and Mercy Hospital for Women.