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Bladder
Control and Fitness (at
the Grover location only)
The Problem
Women and men of all ages, children as well as adults, may experience an uncontrolled
loss of urine, called urinary incontinence. Weakness of the pelvic floor muscles
which form a sling around the vagina (in women), the urethra (tube from the
bladder), and the rectum may cause incontinence. Aging, pregnancy, childbirth,
high-impact exercising, chronic constipation, and chronic coughing can weaken
the pelvic floor muscles. If you notice urine leaking when you cough, lift,
sneeze, or exercise, you may have the most common type of leakage called stress
incontinence. If you feel a sudden and strong urge to urinate, and sometimes
do not make it to the bathroom in time, you may have urge incontinence. A combination
of both types of incontinence is called mixed incontinence.
Why Physical
Therapy
While incontinence is common, it is not normal and can be treated by a medical
team approach, including a physical therapist. The therapist can evaluate your
problem and help you manage the debilitating effects of urinary incontinence.
Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles can prevent, decrease, or even stop the
leakage of urine altogether.
A Suggested
Program May Include
- Instruction in strengthening
exercise of "Kegels" for the weakened pelvic floor muscles,
- Gentle electrical stimulation
to help tighten the muscles and help the bladder to be less irritable, and,
- Biofeedback training
to help you learn to correctly tighten and relax the pelvic floor muscles.
Other Physical Therapy
Suggestions That May Help You in the Future
- Designing a home exercise
program to meet your needs,
- Instructing you on correct
lifting and moving techniques,
- Teaching you how to keep
a bladder diary and move toward normal voiding habits, and
- Suggesting foods to avoid
which may be irritating to the bladder.
If You Think You May
Benefit From Physical Therapy
To help you manage your urinary incontinence, ask your physician to refer you
to a trained physical therapist at St. John's Mercy Sports & Therapy in Grover.
If you have any questions
regarding our program or if you wish to schedule an appointment, please
call us at 636-458-9343.
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