DOUBLE SUPPORT DURATION AS A PREDICTOR FOR STRESS URINARY INCONTINENCE IN WOMEN

Abstract

Background: Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) is one of the common conditions in women which negatively affect life quality such as bladder control. Such common conditions are associated with gait abnormalities, and this association was not fully understood. Thus, the current study aims to compare the physical characteristics and gait parameters of women with and without SUI to uncover the condition's functional limitations.Methods: We compared women diagnosed with SUI and a control women group. All participated individuals had anthropometric. Results: Women in the SUI group had insignificant body weight and age than the non-SUI group. While women in the SUI group had greater BMI (p < 0.05). The frequency of gait abnormalities was higher in the SUI group (80% SUI vs 20% control, p < 0.001). Compared to controls, women with SUI had lower cadence (-27.5 steps/min, p < 0.001, effect size = -0.65), walking speed (-0.5 m/s, p < 0.001, effect size = -0.70) and step length (-24.5 cm, p < 0.001, effect size = -0.60). On the other hand, SUI group had higher duration of double support (+120 ms, p < 0.001, effect size = 0.55) and step duration (+150 ms, p < 0.001, effect size = 0.65). Conclusion: Women with SUI had slower walking, taking shorter steps, and spending more time in double support and step durations. SUI had compensatory adaptations in the gait to improve walking stability. Thus, the need for gait rehabilitation, pelvic floor therapy, and weight control are recommended.