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Nazari Z, Vassaghi Gharamaleki B, Babazadeh S. Spirometric Indices in Semi-professional Female Athletes With Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Case-Control study. Func Disabil J 2026; 9 (1)
URL: http://fdj.iums.ac.ir/article-1-338-en.html

Background and Objectives: Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is frequent among female athletes and may be linked to altered breathing patterns and intra-abdominal pressure. This study compared spirometric indices between semi-professional female athletes with SUI and healthy peers.
Methods: In a cross-sectional comparative study, 40 athletes (20 cases with SUI and 20 controls) were assessed. Normality was tested using the Shapiro-Wilk test, between-group comparisons was performed using an independent t-test, and sport-type distribution was examined using the chi-square test. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software, version 18 at α=0.05. Outcomes included expiratory reserve volume (ERV), inspiratory reserve volume (IRV), tidal volume (TV), vital capacity (VC), inspiratory vital capacity (IVC), inspiratory capacity (IC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC ratio, peak expiratory flow (PEF), and time indices, including inspiratory time (TI) and expiratory time (TE). 
Results: Groups were comparable in age, height, and weight; BMI was lower in the SUI group (P=0.0305) and sport distribution did not differ (χ²=2.54; P=0.469). The SUI group showed significantly lower FEV1 (2.31±0.23 vs 3.08±0.22 L; P<0.001), FVC (3.52±0.26 vs 4.15±0.23 L; P<0.001), FEV1/FVC (66.16±7.93% vs 74.05±5.4%; P=0.0008), and PEF (5.09±0.44 vs 7.17±0.51 L/s; P<0.001). VC/IVC, IC, IRV, and ERV were also reduced, and TE was shorter in the SUI group (P≤0.005), whereas TV and TI did not differ. Qualitative inspection of flow–volume and time–volume curves revealed a lower peak flow and initial slope in the SUI group.
Conclusion: Female athletes with SUI present reduced vital/inspiratory capacities and expiratory flow limitation, suggesting impaired diaphragm–abdominal–pelvic floor synergy. Routine use of simple spirometric markers (notably FEV1, FVC, PEF, and FEV1/FVC) may assist in screening and monitoring response to integrated respiratory–PFM interventions in this population.