Kristina Lindquist Skaug

Norwegian version of this page Department of Sports Medicine

Researcher

Email: kristinals@nih.no
Phone: +4723262393
Mobile phone: +4740609916

Press photo

Projects

No ongoing projects

Research

Pelvic floor dysfunction in elite athletes, women's health.

Short biography

Kristina L. Skaug is a PhD Candidate at the Department of Sports Medicine at NIH. She has a bachelor degree in physiotherapy from Copenhagen, and she completed her master's degree in Sports Physiotherapy from NIH in 2015.

In her PhD project she investigates pelvic floot dysfunction in elite female athletes.

Bø, Kari; Lillegård, Ragnhild Haug & Skaug, Kristina Lindquist (2024). Pelvic Floor Muscle Training on Stress Urinary Incontinence in Power- and Weightlifters: a Pilot Study. International Urogynecology Journal. ISSN 0937-3462. p. 1–8. doi: 10.1007/s00192-024-05801-8.
Skaug, Kristina Lindquist; Engh, Anna Marie Ellström & Bø, Kari (2024). Pelvic floor muscle training in female functional fitness exercisers: An assessor-blinded randomised controlled trial . British Journal of Sports Medicine. ISSN 0306-3674. p. 1–8. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2023-107365.
Skaug, Kristina Lindquist; Engh, Anna Marie Ellström & Bø, Kari (2023). Acute Effect of Heavy Weightlifting on the Pelvic Floor Muscles in Strength-Trained Women: An Experimental Crossover Study. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. ISSN 0195-9131. 56(1), p. 37–43. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000003275. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Introduction/Purpose: Heavy lifting may produce strain on the pelvic floor muscles (PFM) due to high increases in intraabdominal pressure, but knowledge of the impact of weightlifting on the PFM is lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate acute effects of heavy weightlifting on the PFM in strength-trained women and whether general strength in whole-body exercises correlated to PFM strength. Methods: Forty-seven nulliparous women between 18-35 years who regularly performed weightlifting and were able to lift their own body weight x 1.2 in back squat and 1.5 in deadlift were included in this experimental crossover study. They participated in baseline evaluations (questionnaire/measurements of background characteristics and pelvic floor disorders, 1 repetition maximum (1RM) tests in back squat and deadlift) and one test day where they were randomized to start with 60 minutes of weightlifting (4 sets of 4 repetitions at 75-85% of 1RM in back squat and deadlift) or seated rest of 60 minutes. Vaginal pressure measurements of PFM resting pressure, strength, and endurance and sEMG-measurements of PFM resting activity were performed before/after weightlifting and rest. Results: No statistically significant differences were found when comparing the change in PFM resting pressure, strength, endurance, and resting activity after heavy weightlifting and rest. There were no statistically significant correlations between PFM strength and maximum (1RM) or relative strength (1RM/bodyweight) in either back squat or deadlift. Conclusions: Our results imply that heavy weightlifting is well tolerated by the PFM in short-term among young, nulliparous, and strength-trained women. Strength in whole-body exercises was not correlated to PFM strength.
Skaug, Kristina Lindquist; Engh, Marie Ellström; Frawley, Helena C. & Bø, Kari (2021). Urinary and anal incontinence among female gymnasts and cheerleaders—bother and associated factors. A cross-sectional study. International Urogynecology Journal. ISSN 0937-3462. doi: 10.1007/s00192-021-04696-z. Full text in Research Archive Show summary
Introduction and hypothesis: Artistic gymnastics, team gymnastics and cheerleading are sports including high-impact activities. It is presumed that the athletes' pelvic floor must be functioning well to prevent urinary (UI) and anal incontinence (AI) during sports. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for UI and AI in female artistic gymnasts, team gymnasts and cheerleaders; the influence of UI and AI on daily living and sport performance; and the athletes' knowledge about the pelvic floor muscles (PFM). Methods: All female athletes ≥ 12 years of age competing in ≥ 1 National Championship in artistic gymnastics, team gymnastics or cheerleading in 2018/2019 were invited. International Consensus on Incontinence Questionnaires were used to assess the prevalence/bother of UI and AI. Results: Among the 319 gymnasts and cheerleaders who participated, the prevalence of UI and AI was 67% and 84%, respectively. Age, training ≥ 4 days/week and straining to void were significantly associated with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and years of training with AI. Eighty-three percent of athletes with SUI reported a negative effect on sports performance, 22% would occasionally avoid training or specific exercises because of leakage, and 28% used pads for protection. Forty-one percent of the athletes had never heard about the PFM, and 74% reported an interest in PFM training to prevent/treat UI or AI. Conclusions: UI and AI were prevalent in female gymnasts and cheerleaders, and SUI negatively influenced sport performance. The athletes' knowledge about the PFM was limited.
Skaug, Kristina Lindquist; Engh, Marie Ellström; Frawley, Helena & Bø, Kari (2020). Prevalence of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, Bother, and Risk Factors and Knowledge of the Pelvic Floor Muscles in Norwegian Male and Female Powerlifters and Olympic Weightlifters. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. ISSN 1064-8011. 36(10), p. 2800–2807. doi: 10.1519/JSC.0000000000003919. Show summary
Strenuous exercise has been suggested as a risk factor of pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD). Powerlifters and Olympic weightlifters compete with high external loads. To date, knowledge of PFD in these athletes has been sparse. The aim of this study was to investigate prevalence, risk factors, and bother of PFD in powerlifters and Olympic weightlifters and their knowledge of the pelvic floor muscles (PFM). All athletes aged ≥18 years competing in ≥1 National Championship in powerlifting or Olympic weightlifting in 2018/2019 were invited. The International Consensus on Incontinence Questionnaires were used to assess PFD. One hundred eighty women and 204 men participated. The prevalence of urinary incontinence (UI), anal incontinence (AI), and pelvic organ prolapse in women was 50.0, 80.0, and 23.3%, respectively. Stress UI (SUI) was reported by 41.7% of the women and 87.8% reported a negative influence on sport performance. The prevalence of UI and AI in men was 9.3 and 61.8%. In women, increasing body mass index was significantly associated with SUI (odds ratio [OR]: 1.09, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.17) and international level of competition (OR: 3.27, 95% CI: 1.32–8.07) and weightlifting ≥4 d·wk−1 (OR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.08–0.86) with AI. In men, increasing age (OR: 1.03, 95% CI: 1.00–1.07) and frequently straining to void (OR: 4.84, 95% CI: 1.02–22.94) were significantly associated with AI. Forty-three percent of the women and 74% of the men did not know why and 44.4 and 72.5% how to train the PFM. In conclusion, the prevalence of PFD was high, and the athletes had limited knowledge of the PFM.

View all works in Cristin

Skaug, Kristina Lindquist & Bø, Kari (2019). RE: Pelvic Floor Dysfunction in Female Athletes. Strength and conditioning journal. ISSN 1524-1602. 41(6), p. 122–123. doi: 10.1519/SSC.0000000000000498.
Skaug, Kristina Lindquist; Steenstrup, Sophie E.; Bere, Tone Tufte & Nordsletten, Lars (2015). Skadeforekomst og skademønstre blant aplinutøvere i Europa cup og World cup. Norsk idrettsmedisin. ISSN 0806-9328. 30(3).
Skaug, Kristina Lindquist; Steenstrup, Sophie E.; Bere, Tone Tufte & Nordsletten, Lars (2015). Skadeforekomst og skademønstre blant aplinutøvere i Europa cup og World cup.
Nordsletten, Lars & Skaug, Kristina Lindquist (2015). Injury rate and injury patterns among alpine European Cup athletes: are injury rates and injury patterns different between European Cup and World Cup athletes? Norges idrettshøgskole.