This summer, the world has watched women push the limits of sport.
Yet in gyms, on pitches and across courts nationwide, too many women are quietly walking away, not from a lack of motivation or injury, but because of bladder weakness in women.
Why #EverySqueezeCounts Matters
The facts are alarming: 1 in 3 women in the UK experience bladder leaks, and it’s one of the leading reasons women abandon sport altogether.
In fact, our new research revealed one in three women who experience bladder leaks have given up the sports they love entirely due to issues and a weak pelvic floor, while more than two thirds (69%) give up before the age of 40.
At TENA, we believe it’s time to change the game. Female pelvic health, and in particular Kegel exercises for bladder control, are proven to make a difference. Yet awareness and support for women’s pelvic health in gyms and sporting environments remain shockingly low.
TENA’s Call to Keep Women in Sport
This summer we’re calling on gyms and sports clubs to keep women in the game by making pelvic floor exercises a priority.
In our open letter, we’ve called on sports clubs and gyms across the UK to make a major change in their venues by introducing pelvic floor education and Kegel training. Our aim is to help more women continue to do the physical activity they love and stay active with bladder leaks.
is one of the leading reasons women abandon sports, despite being entirely avoidable with the correct incontinence products for women and training. Awareness and support for female pelvic health in gyms and sporting environments remains shockingly low. It’s time for this to change across the UK.
What We’re Asking Gyms to Do
We’re publicly calling for gyms, sporting bodies and organisations to make a number of changes including:
- Integrating pelvic floor education and Kegel training into their gyms and class programmes
- Stocking incontinence products for women that support bladder leak symptoms in all bathrooms
- Empowering trainers and coaches with resources and knowledge to support female members
- Creating an environment where women can feel confident and continue playing the sports they love without fear or embarrassment
- The request for change comes as 50% of women who experience bladder leaks reveal they wish they could get back into sport.
We’re calling on gyms to better educate their PTs, coaches and members on the importance of bladder health. Simple steps such as adding Kegel exercises into warm-ups, posters on how to train your pelvic floor, and stocking bladder leak support products in bathrooms will help give women the confidence to stay in sport.
#EverySqueezeCounts Resources & Support
To help support our mission to make pelvic health a priority, as part of #EverySqueezeCounts, we’ve created a resource pack designed specifically for PTs and gyms, including exercises, guides and helpful tips for supporting those living with urinary incontinence.
Join us in changing the game for women’s health. Share your support today with #EverySqueezeCounts
