Incontinence Clinic

Urinary Incontinence

Did you know that one of every four women and one out of every ten men experience involuntary loss of urine, commonly called urinary incontinence? More than 15 million people in the United States experience urinary incontinence.

Many persons with urinary incontinence are reluctant to discuss their problems with their physicians and will unnecessarily wear diapers or pads, or stay at home because they are afraid that others will detect their problems.

Urinary incontinence can lead to many other medical and psychosocial problems, including skin irritation and breakdown, social isolation and depression. Incontinence problems increase elderly persons’ dependence on others, often resulting in nursing home admissions. The costs of incontinence are enormous, exceeding $16 billion per year.

Although there are many different types of incontinence, the most frequent types are stress incontinence and urge incontinence.

Stress Incontinence

Stress incontinence is the unintended loss (or leaking) of urine when coughing, sneezing, or during physical activity. This condition is seen more often in women and is related to a weakening of the pelvic muscles, a condition that may be associated with childbirth, menopause, or poor health. Men who have had prostate surgery can also experience this type of incontinence.

Urge Incontinence

In urge incontinence, bladder muscles go into spasms, making it difficult to stop the flow of urine once it starts. This strong desire to urinate, which is common among older women, can be provoked by certain situations, such as hearing water running, placing hands in cold water or thinking about using the bathroom.

There Are Solutions

Our physical therapists specialize in the treatment of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction. Treatments focus on retraining the pelvic floor muscles (muscles that support the bladder, uterus and intestines in females and the bladder and intestines in males) and improving bladder relaxation. Good pelvic muscle strength and a relaxed bladder improve urine control. Our reeducation program, which is adapted to each person’s specific needs, provides patients with a wide range of options, including education, biofeedback, electrical stimulation, specialized exercise instruction, manual therapy and preventative advice.

These behavioral treatments represent the initial approach recommended by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR). Other treatment options, such as medications, are also available.

Practical Suggestions

Here are a few practical suggestions to help you reduce urine loss:

Generally, a person urinates five to eight times daily. Establish a schedule for urinating. Urinate regularly before the bladder gets too full. Stop the habit of urinating “in case of,” and go only if necessary.

To prevent an excessive straining of the pelvic floor muscles, do not push too hard when having a bowel movement. Adopt a diet rich in fiber to facilitate good elimination.

Contract your pelvic muscles as follows:

Breathe in, then while breathing out, squeeze in the anal area as if you wanted to stop a flatulence leak. Then concentrate on contracting more forward, as if you wanted to stop urinating. Hold the contraction for at least five seconds without squeezing the abdominal, buttocks or thigh muscles. Note: this exercise should not be practiced when you urinate.

Contract your pelvic floor muscles before coughing, sneezing or lifting objects. Continuing attention to exercises is necessary to maintain benefits.

Talk About it Now

If you have problems with urinary loss, talk about it now. Consult with your physician, who will determine the cause and nature of your incontinence problem, or contact our Physical Therapy department for specialized treatments. Your Physical Therapist will establish a personalized treatment plan to help you restore your bladder control and improve your quality of life.

For more information, please call 763-302-4102.