Intraabdominal pressure in women during CrossFit exercises and the effect of age and parity

ABSTRACT

To determine intraabdominal pressure (IAP) in women during CrossFit and to determine whether parity, age, or CrossFit experience affects IAP during CrossFit exercises, we evaluated 10 women: 5 experienced and active CrossFitters and 5 who were not regularly engaged in CrossFit. A Laborie urodynamics abdominal pressure probe with the Goby wireless system measured IAP during 10 repetitions of 13 different CrossFit exercises. Women had a mean age of 36 years. A significant difference was found between mean peak IAP of the 5 parous vs the 5 nulliparous women (P = 0.009). Experience with CrossFit did not affect mean peak IAP achieved with exercise. In some exercises, there was a significant change in IAP as participants progressed through repetitions (P = 0.003 for back squats and 0.04 for sit-ups). Participants achieved IAP values that were markedly higher than those previously published.

KEYWORDS:

• CrossFit
• exercise
• intraabdominal pressure
• pelvic floor dysfunction

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors thank Sally and Damon Phillips and the staff and athletes of CrossFit DSP; Chandler Carroll for manuscript support; and Eric McLaughlin for Laborie photo.

Additional information

Funding

Dr. Kuehl reports funding from the Anderly Research Endowment and the Noble Centennial Endowed Chair for Research in Obstetrics and Gynecology. All other authors report no conflicts of interest.