| Description |
Intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) is the pressure within the abdominal cavity. IAP is routinely studied in the field of urogynecology to comprehend its relation to pelvic floor disorders. In contrast to the potential negative role of high IAP on the pelvic floor, IAP is important for various forms of human performance. Given the disparate thoughts on IAP and its impact on pelvic floor health and sport and exercise performance, better understanding the IAP response in women without pelvic floor disorders during physical activity is warranted. In brief, the purpose of the study was to describe IAP responses during a variety of exercises and physical activities in women without a history of pelvic floor disorders. Our primary aim is to calculate the percentage of maximal for a select group of the activities detailed in a previous study, using the IAP during seated ValSalva (VM) as the maximal capacity. A secondary aim is to characterize the relationship between the relative term of percent of maximal for each activity, and maximal IAP. We hypothesize that there will be an inverse relationship between percentage of maximal for each activity and maximal IAP. In total, the data of 55 women were included in the analysis. Women were aged 20-54 (M 30.38 ± SD 9.43 yrs) and had BMI values between 17.7-28.9 (M 22.4 ± SD 2.63 kg/m2). Participants completed a 1-hour exercise protocol in a human performance laboratory. Pearson r correlation results indicate that all relative values (% maximal of seated VM) were significantly and negatively correlated at (p < 0.001) with seated VM IAP, except for seated shoulder press with 6.9 kg (p 0.023) and 9.1 kg (p 0.557). Our findings support the contention that the IAP response to individual, submaximal activities exhibits a similar relationship to maximal capacity as that observed in well-established measures of fitness, such as muscular strength and oxygen consumption. It is imperative that coaches understand the relationship between IAP and higher intensity efforts during training. With this knowledge, strength and conditioning specialists may adjust training practices in order to limit the likelihood of precipitating pelvic floor symptoms in women. |
