Prevalence and mechanisms of abdominal pain development among athletes during exercise (results of an online survey)

Objective: to study the frequency and intensity of abdominal pain that occurs in professional and amateur athletes during endurance sports.

Materials and methods: a single-stage cross-sectional study was carried out. A questionnaire was developed, the questionnaire included questions about the training process and about the presence and nature of abdominal pain. The intensity of abdominal pain have been assessed by a 7-point scale. The survey involved 107 people aged 18 to 29 years (average age 21.58 ± 2.86 years). Participation in the study was offered to students of the Siberian State University of Physical Culture and Sports (SibGUFC) and the Omsk Olympic Reserve School (UOR Omsk), who are professionally engaged in endurance sports (long-distance running, cycling and swimming), as well as amateur athletes who study at Omsk State Medical University (OmSMU). Among the respondents, 43 (40.19%) were men and 64 (59.81%) were women. 45 (42.68%) people are engaged in professional sports, and 62 (57.94%) amateur athletes were surveyed.

Results: abdominal pain occurred in 37 (82.22%) professional athletes and 22 (83.87%) amateur athletes. When comparing the intensity of pain during training in professional athletes (3.75±2.32) and amateurs (2.5+-1.42), it was revealed that the intensity of pain is greater in professional athletes (p=0.004). 22 (59.46%) people among professionals and 34 (65.38%) among amateurs noted the localized nature of pain. The majority of the questionnaire participants in two groups indicated the stabbing nature of pain - 21 (56.76%) professionals, 28 (53.85%) amateur athletes. 26 (70.27%) and 34 (65.38%) respondents in the groups of professional and amateur athletes, respectively, note that they had to reduce the intensity of exercise.

Conclusion: sports are associated with the development of abdominal pain among both amateur and professional athletes, which requires a reduction in the intensity of physical activity. The intensity of abdominal pain is higher in professional athletes engaged in endurance sports. The results obtained require the development of appropriate measures to prevent the development of abdominal pain in athletes during exercise.

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