What exactly is Urinary Incontinence?
Urinary Incontinence means you lose urine when you don't want to.
What things contribute to Urinary Incontinence?
There are many things that can contribute to Urinary Incontinence, such as:
- Bladder infection
- Obesity
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Weak pelvic floor muscles
- Chronic illness/coughing
- Constipation
- Medications
- Urinary tract abnormalities
- Neuromuscular disorders
- Stress
- Cigarette smoking
- Caffeine intake
- Hormonal changes of menopause
What can I do about Urinary Incontinence?
First of all, you must discuss your problem with a physician. It is important to have a thorough examination to rule out any medical conditions that may be causing your loss of bladder control. Your physician may then make a referral to begin your physical therapy program.
What does a Physical Therapist do to treat Urinary Incontinence?
Physical Therapy treatment may include education about the bladder function, bladder retraining and urge control techniques, exercises to strengthen the supportive muscles, biofeedback to monitor the muscle activity, and muscle stimulation to the pelvic muscles and/or bladder.
What results can I expect from Physical Therapy treatment of Urinary Incontinence?
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, programs including pelvic muscle strengthening have a cure/improvement rate of over 70%.