There is a reason why you rarely see women over the age of 40 on a trampoline. A perfect storm of hormonal changes, lost muscle strength, damaged connective tissues – and of course the strain caused by pregnancy and childbirth – means that older women who jump are likely to wet themselves.
It’s a very real problem for 4.2 million women across the UK who are abandoning the activities they love due to a lack of support for a condition that experts say is both manageable. A staggering seven in ten women give up the gym, running and other sports before the age of 40 because of bladder leaks, new research has found.
Emily Clarkson, journalist and daughter of Jeremy Clarkson, recently shared a candid Instagram video documenting her first ten-mile run since having a baby—an emotional milestone interrupted by an emergency loo stop.
Powerlifter Emily Westray has also spoken openly about how she wet herself in the gym during a workout.
“It’s such a misconception that it’s only elderly women or mums that experience bladder weakness. I’m a healthy 28-year-old but, when training and competing, there are times when I leak.
“When powerlifting, you’re adding so much pressure to your core and pelvic floor, so it’s especially important to do Kegels to help keep your pelvic floor strong in day-to-day life.
“There is no shame in leaking though, and we need to be encouraging more open and honest conversations to raise awareness of pelvic health so that people know when and how to seek help.
“TENA’s campaign to expand PT education and knowledge is a great initiative to help keep women doing the sports they love.”
Pelvic floor issues are common yet entirely preventable – needing to pee should never stop you from seeing a PT.
One in three women in the UK experience bladder leaks, but gyms have been slow to catch up with support. Which is why bladder care brand TENA is calling on the UK’s biggest gyms to take action and make pelvic floor health a top priority to help keep women in sport.
In an open letter to PureGym, JD Gyms and Virgin Active, TENA has urged gyms and other sporting bodies to add pelvic floor education and Kegel exercises to warm-ups and create gym spaces where women feel confident and included, among other measures.
Because despite pelvic floor training being a proven solution, awareness and support remain shockingly low.
Jennifer Grayson, Brand Manager at TENA Women, said: “Women’s sport has never been stronger, with the Lionesses inspiring millions, but bladder leaks are quietly forcing thousands out of the game.
“This is an entirely avoidable barrier. Simple steps like adding Kegels to warm-ups, stocking products in bathrooms and training PTs on pelvic health could transform the way women experience fitness. We want gyms to step up and help women feel confident, supported and unstoppable.”