Introduction: High-intensity exercise may overload the pelvic floor, increasing dysfunction risk, while moderate activity appears protective.Objective: In this review, investigated were the effects of physical activity and distinct sports disciplines on pelvic floor function, emphasizing disparities between professional and recreational athletes.Methods: A literature search was conducted between December 2024 and September 2025 in PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases. Articles published since 2000 in English or Polish on the association between sports participation and pelvic floor function or disorders were included. Non-sport-related studies, non-athletic populations and irrelevant outcomes were excluded. In total, 4,706 articles were found. After removing duplicates, 1,911 were left, and 173 remained for full evaluation. Ultimately, 65 papers were included in the review.Results: The results indicate that high-impact sports significantly increase the risk of pelvic floor dysfunctions, especially in women. The most commonly reported symptom was stress urinary incontinence, with prevalence rates reaching up to 80% among female trampolinists and gymnasts. In strength-based disciplines, women also experienced pelvic organ prolapse and faecal incontinence, while men – particularly cyclists – reported erectile dysfunction, especially with prolonged cycling. In team sports high rates of urinary incontinence (up to 61%) were observed, which were associated with repetitive loading and elevated intra-abdominal pressure.Conclusions: Although a connection between sport participation and pelvic floor dysfunction is demonstrated in many studies, significant gaps remain – particularly regarding long-term effects and cumulative sport-specific risks. Further high-quality, prospective and biomechanical research is needed to develop effective preventive and therapeutic strategies.
Mazur-Bialy et al. (Tue,) studied this question.