INCONTINENCE - Things You Need To Do.

Unable to control that urge?

Here’s all you need to know… 62-y/o Tina, when she came to my clinic, was a bit shy about discussing her problem. However, after talking to her, I came to know that she is suffering from urinary incontinence. Urinary incontinence is any undesired leakage of urine. As per the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney disease, more than 13 million people in the USA have urinary incontinence. It majorly involves improper functioning/control of the pelvic floor muscles. One in every ten persons over the age of 65 experience this. As per the Journal of American Medical Association, urinary incontinence affects up to one-quarter of American women.

Why this occurs?

• • Pregnancy and childbirth
• • Pelvic fracture
• • Inflammation like cystitis
• • Surgery in the vagina or rectum
• • Lack of exercise and muscle weakness
• • Confusion, dilemma, delirium, depression, or anger

What can be done?

Incontinence can be treated in many ways, starting from bladder training to physical therapy, medications to surgery, and a lot more. The treatment completely depends upon the cause and severity, and your physician decides what’s best for you. You can also consult your physical therapist to control the condition better. How Can Physical Therapy help? Consult your PT before starting any kind of exercises

1. • Kegel exercises: It is done by squeezing the sphincter. Imagine you are urinating and try to stop urine. This increases tonicity in pelvic floor muscles resulting in better control of the bladder.
2. • Stretching and strengthening of muscles: Stretching and strengthening of muscles of the pelvic floor also help gain tonicity.
3. • Biofeedback: It can help make you more aware of the correct ways to use pelvic floor muscles, and electrical stimulation can be given to improve awareness of muscle function.
4. • Knack maneuver: It is a voluntary contraction performed in response to a specific situation. Teach about contraction and its appropriate timing, e.g., contract pelvic muscles before cough or sneeze.

Things to remember

• • Try to figure out what food irritates the bladder and try to avoid them, e.g., caffeine.
• • Change behaviors that make symptoms worse
• • Maintain a healthy bathroom schedule
• • Maintain bowel regularity
• • Keep yourself hydrated
• • Maintain regular exercise routine and adopt an active lifestyle