WHAT IS INCONTINENCE? 

Incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine.  It is a symptom, not a disease.  There are 6 kinds of incontinence. 

• Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) is the uncontrolled loss of urine when the pressure inside the bladder exceeds the pressure inside the urethra.  This can be exacerbated by a cough, sneeze, laugh, or lifting.  During pregnancy and childbirth, weakened pelvic floor muscles and poor ligament support of the bladder can lead to stress incontinence.  Women going through menopause may also experience incontinence due to the reduction of estrogen. 
• Urge Urinary Incontinence (UUI) is the uncontrolled loss of urine preceded by a strong urge to urinate.  The bladder muscle contracts at the wrong time.  Possible causes include urinary tract infections, kidney stone, constipation, neurological disorders (such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson disease), and bladder irritants (such as chocolate, caffeine, carbonated beverages, citrus fruits and juices, nicotine, alcohol, spicy foods, tomato-based products, and artificial sweeteners) 
• Mixed Urinary Incontinence (MUI) is a combination of stress and urge incontinence symptoms.
• Overactive Bladder (OAB) is associated with abnormal detrusor (bladder muscle) contractions that do not cause leakage or aren't strong enough to overcome the bladder outlet. 
• Overflow Incontinence causes a constant dribbling of urine due to ineffective bladder emptying.  It is common in men with enlarged prostates, can be a side-effect of diabetes, can be caused by certain medications, and can be a result of fecal impaction
• Functional Incontinence is characterized by an inability to get to the bathroom in time to prevent leakage. 

Pelvic floor muscle weakness can be a contributing cause of stress incontinence.  These muscles surround the urinary sphincter, urethra, vagina, and rectum. 

Pelvic floor muscles, when strong, give support to the openings which pass through them, thereby helping to control the flow of urine.  When they are weak, leakage of urine may occur. 

FACTS ABOUT INCONTINENCE:

• More than 20 million Americans and over 200 million individuals worldwide--women, men,  young and  old--can suffer from urinary incontinence
• bladder control problems occur twice as often in women, but men also experience incontinence, particularly after prostate surgery or lower back injuries
• The cost of incontinence is more than $16 billion per year
• Incontinence decreases the quality of life and can lead to social isolation, depression, skin problems, decreased physical intimacy, falls, and urinary tract infections. 
• Incontinence is the second-most common reason people are admitted to nursing homes, and it affects 50% of nursing home residents.
• One is 6 women over 45 years experiences some type of incontinence, but 31% of these women have never talked about their condition with a health care provider

PHYSICAL THERAPY CAN HELP BY?

• Evaluating the extent of the incontinence
• Prescribing and directing an exercises program, specifically designed for you, to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. The key to success is to exercise the muscles correctly and regularly.  Core stability exercises are an essential component of pelvic floor rehabilitation.
• Identifying treatment goals
• Educating the patient about the bladder, pelvic floor muscles, and normal emptying techniques
• Bladder retraining and timed schedules for urinating
• Dietary modifications--consuming proper amounts of fluids, and decreasing the intake of known bladder irritants
• Some women may benefit from Biofeedback, electrical stimulation, and/or the use of vaginal cones. 
• This is a non-surgical program with no side effects, and it is recognized as the first-line of treatment for incontinence. 
• If you are going to have bladder surgery or have already had the surgery, this program will help to support your surgery and may prevent the need for further surgeries.

Contact us