Overcoming Incontinence with Pelvic Health Physiotherapy
Urinary incontinence and bladder control issues are common problems, especially for older adults. People suffering from incontinence and an overactive bladder can find relief with pelvic health physiotherapy. Some individuals experience urine leakage while coughing, and others suffer from the urge to urinate frequently. After ruling out medical conditions like a urinary tract infection, diabetes or Parkinson’s disease, patients can seek physiotherapy to control urinary incontinence effectively.
Incontinence and Bladder Control Problems
Stress incontinence is an involuntary release of a small to moderate amount of urine, often when laughing, sneezing or coughing. Urge incontinence or overactive bladder (OAB), caused by muscle spasms, is an uncontrollable need to use the bathroom to urinate, and may involve a large amount of urine. For some people, risk factors for incontinence include being overweight or having been pregnant multiple times. Urinary problems may also be hereditary.
While women are more likely to suffer from bladder control issues and may suffer from both stress incontinence and urge incontinence, men can also have these symptoms. Pelvic floor physiotherapy is an effective nonsurgical method of alleviating the problem without resorting to pharmaceutical drugs.
Treating Incontinence with Physiotherapy
Fortunately, in most cases bladder control issues are treatable with physiotherapy. To diagnose the problem, the physiotherapist may require the patient to keep a log of bladder activity. The log details how often patients use the bathroom, whether or not they had an accident, and what they believe triggered the incident. Once the problem is diagnosed, the therapist can put together an individualized action plan that may involve exercises, behaviour modification and diet.
- Scheduled bathroom visits: The therapist may recommend that the patient visit the bathroom at scheduled times before the urge to go or an accident occurs./
- Diet: The therapist might recommend reducing substances like caffeine in the diet, which can act as a bladder irritant.
- Behaviour modification: Patient may be provided with tools to resist the urge to use the bathroom at an unscheduled time, such as deep breathing and relaxation.
- Pelvic floor exercises: Also known as Kegel exercises, pelvic floor muscle training can help control bladder issues.
- Biofeedback: Kegel exercises may be used in conjunction with biofeedback, especially if the muscles are weak.