Prevalence of urinary incontinence, low back pain, stress, and dysmenorrhea in high-performance female French skiers: A cross-sectional study

Objective This study aimed to determine the prevalence of low back pain (LBP), urinary incontinence (UI), stress, and dysmenorrhea in high-performance female skiers and to explore the differences in these conditions between skiers with and without UI. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in 32 high-performance French female skiers aged 18–40 years. Participants completed an anonymous online questionnaire that included validated instruments: the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire–Short Form (ICIQ-SF), the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Numeric Rating Scales for LBP and dysmenorrhea, and a Stress Numeric Rating Scale (SNRS). Outcomes were compared between the UI and non-UI groups. Results UI was reported by 34.37% of participants, all classified as stress UI. LBP was present in 84.37%, most of whom reported mild pain and minimal disability. Dysmenorrhea affected 87.5% of participants, and 75% of the sample experienced moderate to severe pain. Stress was reported by 75% of the sample and was significantly higher in the UI group (p = 0.002). No statistically significant differences were found between the UI and non-UI groups for LBP, disability, or dysmenorrhea. Conclusions In this sample of high-performance female skiers, UI, LBP, stress, and dysmenorrhea were frequently reported. Although no statistically significant differences in low back pain, disability, or dysmenorrhea were observed between groups, the limited sample size warrants cautious interpretation of these findings. Overall, the results highlight the need for integrated physical and psychological health strategies in high-performance skiers.