Evaluation of the Physical Properties of the Linea Alba and the Mechanical Properties of the Lumbar Spine and Pelvic Floor Muscles in Spanish Women Engaged in High-Impact Sports

• Grant number: 25/12286-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: September 15, 2025
• End date: June 14, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Ana Carolina Sartorato Beleza
• Grantee: Clara Maria de Araujo Silva
• Supervisor: Daiana Priscila Rodrigues de Souza
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidad de Córdoba (UCO), Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/10158-5 - Approach to Functionality in Brazilian Pregnant Women: Evaluation of the Measurement Properties of an Instrument on Contextual Factors During the Gestational Period, BP.DR

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the physical properties of the linea alba and the mechanical properties of the lumbar spine and pelvic floor muscles in Spanish women engaged in high-impact sports.Methods: This is a case-control study in accordance with the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) guidelines, to be conducted at the University of Córdoba, Spain. The study will include nulliparous women aged 18 years or older, whether physically active or not, and/or high-impact sports athletes. Exclusion criteria include a body mass index > 30 kg/m², systemic health conditions, use of medications that affect continence or the functional properties of the pelvic floor muscles, and treatment for abdominal diastasis within the past 6 months. Participants will complete sociodemographic and health questionnaires as well as the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI-20), Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire (PFIQ-7), 3-Incontinence Questions (3IQ), and the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) from the World Health Organization. Subsequently, physical assessments will be performed using ultrasonography and myotonometry to evaluate the linea alba, pelvic floor, and paraspinal muscles. Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics (for participant characteristics and device outcomes), intragroup correlation tests (Pearson or Spearman), and group comparison tests (Student's t-test or Mann-Whitney U test), depending on data distribution.Expected results: The findings are expected to enhance understanding of the relationship between abdominal changes, diastasis, and pelvic floor dysfunctions, supporting the validation of reliable assessment protocols in women's health. (AU)