Urinary Incontinence and the Benefits of Physical Therapy
Contrary to popular notion, urinary incontinence is not a disease but a symptom of an underlying medical condition or physical problem. A thorough assessment by a doctor will help determine the cause, which can sometimes be due to urinary tract infection, certain medications and even neurological problems linked to conditions like diabetes and Parkinson's. The three most common types are stress incontinence, urge incontinence and mixed incontinence.
How Can a Physical Therapist Help?
A physical therapist evaluates and works with the muscles of the pelvic floor (the muscles that hold the bladder in place), in conjunction with the treatment of a medical provider. The therapy may include ultrasound, biofeedback or electrical stimulation, palpation, heat and cold therapy, and strengthening exercises.
Also, the therapist may also ask the patient to keep a log of the frequency of her incontinence and when it usually happens. The patient will jot down how often she went to the toilet and what may have triggered it, because in some, a cough, sneeze or even a laugh may urge one to urinate – stress incontinence. On the other hand, others may experience urge incontinence where they suddenly have a severe urge to urinate that the bladder begins to contract and lose urine on the way to the toilet. As for older women, they may have a combination of both.
Which Exercises Help Relieve the Problem?
The types of exercise that help alleviate urinary incontinence are those that stretch and strengthen the pelvic muscles. As mentioned earlier, pelvic muscles support and keep the bladder in place. This group of muscles are also called "levator ani muscles" and are named as such because these hold or elevate the pelvic organs in place. When these weaken, the organs will move out of their normal position (prolapse) and cause stress incontinence.
Pelvic floor exercises, also known as Kegel exercises, are a rehabilitation technique which is done to tone or tighten the pelvic floor muscles to help prevent urine from leaking out and also to avoid pelvic prolapse. Additionally, this exercise may also be utilized to reprogram the urinary bladder to decrease the frequency of incontinence.
Kegel exercises as sports performance testing Vernon Hills especially for athletes are easy to do and can be done while standing, sitting or lying down without anyone knowing about it. When you try to slow or stop the flow of urine while urinating, those are the same muscles you contract when you are doing this exercise. Contract it for three seconds, then relax. Take note that you are not doing it properly if you are pulling in your stomach. This should be done once every hour while you are awake. As you are able to hold the contraction for longer periods, try doing it for 10 seconds, then relax for 10 seconds. This pelvic floor exercise should be done every day for at least three to four months. If after this period and no improvement is noticed, then additional help such as electric stimulation may be required.
While Kegel exercise is basically very easy to perform, physical therapy is not the only treatment regimen required to alleviate urinary incontinence. Thus, it is important that you see a doctor to ensure that you are receiving all the necessary treatment for your underlying condition.
How Can a Physical Therapist Help?
A physical therapist evaluates and works with the muscles of the pelvic floor (the muscles that hold the bladder in place), in conjunction with the treatment of a medical provider. The therapy may include ultrasound, biofeedback or electrical stimulation, palpation, heat and cold therapy, and strengthening exercises.
Also, the therapist may also ask the patient to keep a log of the frequency of her incontinence and when it usually happens. The patient will jot down how often she went to the toilet and what may have triggered it, because in some, a cough, sneeze or even a laugh may urge one to urinate – stress incontinence. On the other hand, others may experience urge incontinence where they suddenly have a severe urge to urinate that the bladder begins to contract and lose urine on the way to the toilet. As for older women, they may have a combination of both.
Which Exercises Help Relieve the Problem?
The types of exercise that help alleviate urinary incontinence are those that stretch and strengthen the pelvic muscles. As mentioned earlier, pelvic muscles support and keep the bladder in place. This group of muscles are also called "levator ani muscles" and are named as such because these hold or elevate the pelvic organs in place. When these weaken, the organs will move out of their normal position (prolapse) and cause stress incontinence.
Pelvic floor exercises, also known as Kegel exercises, are a rehabilitation technique which is done to tone or tighten the pelvic floor muscles to help prevent urine from leaking out and also to avoid pelvic prolapse. Additionally, this exercise may also be utilized to reprogram the urinary bladder to decrease the frequency of incontinence.
Kegel exercises as sports performance testing Vernon Hills especially for athletes are easy to do and can be done while standing, sitting or lying down without anyone knowing about it. When you try to slow or stop the flow of urine while urinating, those are the same muscles you contract when you are doing this exercise. Contract it for three seconds, then relax. Take note that you are not doing it properly if you are pulling in your stomach. This should be done once every hour while you are awake. As you are able to hold the contraction for longer periods, try doing it for 10 seconds, then relax for 10 seconds. This pelvic floor exercise should be done every day for at least three to four months. If after this period and no improvement is noticed, then additional help such as electric stimulation may be required.
While Kegel exercise is basically very easy to perform, physical therapy is not the only treatment regimen required to alleviate urinary incontinence. Thus, it is important that you see a doctor to ensure that you are receiving all the necessary treatment for your underlying condition.
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