Take Control of Urinary Incontinence
By Renata Asinelli, Women’s Health Physiotherapist
Women have endured the symptoms of urinary incontinence as it was believed that leaking from the bladder was “the price you pay for having babies” or “part of getting older”, however, this no longer needs to be the case! Pelvic floor muscle training supervised by a trained women’s health physiotherapist is proven to be an effective way for women to regain control over urinary incontinence.
Incidence
A recent survey of women undertaking a gym program found that nearly 50% leak frequently during exercise and 80% had occasional loss of urine during exercise.
It is estimated that around 1 in 3 women who have had a baby experience leaking from the bladder during their daily activities.
Types
- Stress incontinence: Leakage with coughing, sneezing, lifting, standing, laughing.
- Urge incontinence: The urge to open your bladder is so strong that you can make to the toilet in time.
- Mixed Incontinence: Leakage with a mix of stress and urge incontinence.
Causes & Contributing Factors
- Pregnancy
- Menopausal changes
- Age
- Lack of exercise
- Being overweight
- Poor bladder and bowel habits
Management
With increased research in recent years, we have gained a better understanding of the mechanism of urinary incontinence and, in turn, management has become well established. The strongest evidence for management is for pelvic floor muscle training supervised by a trained women’s health physiotherapist and this is recommended as fist line of treatment for all types of urinary incontinence.
The pelvic floor muscles, like the other muscles in your body, will respond better to a specific training regime based on your goals. Women’s health physiotherapists will perform a thorough assessment of your pelvic floor muscles, bladder and bowel habits. Assessment can involve an internal vaginal examination, the use of real time ultrasound and a bladder and bowel diary. Together, you and your therapist can establish your goals and design an individualised program to empower you to achieve your desired results and improve your quality of life.
About Renata
Renata is a women’s health physiotherapist at All About Physio Nerang on the Gold Coast, specialising in pelvic health. She has been a physiotherapist for over 15 years with over 11 years experience working as a women’s health physiotherapist. If you would like to book an appointment with Renata, click the ‘Book Now’ button below or call our Nerang location on 07 5596 5766. To learn more about All About Physio’s women’s health physiotherapy service click the ‘Learn More’ button below.