Urinary Incontinence

Research on urinary incontinence reveals that 13 million Americans are incontinent – 85% of them are women. More recent consumer research reveals that one in four women over the age of 18 experience episodes of leaking urine involuntarily. One in five adults over age 40 are affected by overactive bladder or recurrent symptoms of urgency and frequency, a portion of whom don't reach the toilet before losing urine.

Women of all ages may experience urinary incontinence. Leakage can be caused by weakening of the pelvic floor muscles, which form a sling around the vagina (birth canal), the urethra (tube from the bladder), and the rectum. Weakened pelvic muscles can be caused by aging, pregnancy, child birth, chronic constipation, and chronic coughing. Urinary incontinence is often a socially debilitating condition, which causes many women to have to give up activities they love. The good news is that most cases of incontinence can be cured or improved with proper diagnosis and treatment.

Types of Incontinence

1. Stress Urinary Incontinence: Stress urinary incontinence may occur because of weak pelvic floor muscles and/or a deficient urethral sphincter, causing the bladder to leak during exercise, coughing, sneezing, laughing, or any body movement which puts pressure on the bladder. A problem that affects both men and women, SUI may follow childbirth or menopause in women and prostate cancer treatment, such as radical prostatectomy, in men.
2. Urge Urinary Incontinence: Urge urinary incontinence and overactive bladder is the urgent need to pass urine and the inability to get to a toilet in time. This occurs when nerve passages along the pathway from the bladder to the brain are damaged, causing a sudden bladder contraction that cannot be consciously inhibited.
3. Mixed Incontinence: Mixed incontinence is very common and occurs when symptoms of both stress and urge types of incontinence are present. Symptoms of one type of incontinence may be more severe than the other.

Physical Therapy Treatment for Urinary Incontinence

Women suffering with urinary incontinence are often under a number of misconceptions. One is that they are alone in this affliction. Another is that it isa normal part of aging.  Another is that adult diapers and medication are the only treatment options. Women do not talk about this problem. They rarely even tell their physicians and if they do, the problem has generally been there for years before they say a word. 

The truth is, pelvic muscle weakness can contribute greatly to urinary incontinence because of the lack of support and control. Often the symptoms of urinary incontinence can be greatly improved with the proper instruction and performance of strengthening activities and re-education of the pelvic muscles. These women also need a lot of education in habits and activity modification. There are also times they
need additional interventions such as electrical stimulation, vaginal weights, supportive
devices or manual work.

Some symptoms that would indicate that PT referral would be appropriate include:

• Loss of urine with coughing, sneezing or exertion
• Inability to make it to the toilet before leaking after feeling the urge to urinate
• Frequent trips to the bathroom during the day or night
• Adjusting daily activities or social outings because of the problem.
• Other weaknesses or pain including low back, abdominals, and/or hips.

Some physical therapy treatment options include:

• Biofeedback
• Electrical stimulation
• Manual work
• Habit and activity modification
• Vaginal weights
• Vaginal supports
• Pelvic floor recruitment and strengthening exercises

Physical therapy is an appropriate conservative treatment option for urinary incontinence. If you are interested in learning more you can contact the therapists at Legacy Physical Therapy at 636-225-3649.

Race for the Cure

Statistics show that 1 in 8 women will be stricken with breast cancer in her lifetime.   These women are mothers, daughters, wives, aunts, cousins, coworkers and friends.  This disease affects so many around us and we must do our part to support them and help to find a cure.  If you have never participated in the Race for the Cure, please consider making this your first year.  You will be truly blessed and moved by the magnitude of people pulling together on one day for one cause!

Saturday, June 13th will be the annual Komen St. Louis Race for the Cure.  Please join Legacy Physical Therapy show our support and dedication in helping find a cure for breast cancer. MORE INFO