Urinary Incontinence: Causes,Symptoms, Physical TherapyTreatment

Urinary incontinence refers to accidental leakage of urine.There are several types of urinary incontinence includingstress, urge, mixed and functional incontinence.

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What is Urinary Incontinence?

Several things can cause urinary incontinence, but the mostcommon cause is weakness and lack of pelvic floor support.The pelvic floor consists of muscles that attach to the pelvicbones in order to support the internal organs, control thebladder and bowel, and assist with sexual function.  Thesemuscles also work closely with the abdominal, back anddiaphragm muscles to stabilize the body during motion. Weakness, tightness or in-coordination of these musclescan contribute to urinary incontinence.

What causes Urinary Incontinence?

Refers to the leakage of urine when there is increasedpressure on the bladder during exercise, sneezing, coughing,lifting or other activities requiring exertion. continued...

Stress Incontinence

Urinary Incontinence: Causes, Symptoms, Physical Therapy Treatment

Individuals with stress incontinenceoften have “underactive” pelvic floormuscles.  Causes of stressincontinence include:

Pregnancy and childbirthEpisiotomy (during childbirth)Injuryor traumaPelvic or genital surgeryLack of exerciseExcessive coughing or sneezingProlonged heavy lifting

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Stress Incontinencecontinued...

Urge incontinence is often due to weakand “overactive” pelvic floor muscles. Individuals experience a strong urge tourinate and may have difficulty gettingto the bathroom in time.  Causes ofurge incontinence include:

DiabetesMedicationsUrinary tract infectionsCaffeine or alcoholIncomplete bladder emptyingNeurological disorders

Urge Incontinence

Urinary Incontinence: Causes, Symptoms, Physical Therapy Treatment

Mixed incontinence refers to acombination of urge and stressincontinence.  The causes can includeany combination of the triggers forstress and urge incontinence.

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Mixed Incontinence

Functional incontinence is urine leakagethat occurs when a person with normalbladder function cannot get to the toiletin time due to physical, cognitive, orenvironmental barriers. Causes offunctional incontinence include:

Joint pain or muscle weaknessProblems with mobility and walkingConfusion, dementia or deliriumEnvironmental barriers (example: thebathroom is too far away, a walkeror cane takes time to maneuver, toomany obstacles in the way, difficultyremoving clothes)Poor visionPsychological problems such asdepression or anger

Functional Incontinence

Urinary Incontinence: Causes, Symptoms, Physical Therapy Treatment

Physical therapists (PTs) can help when a person’s joints and muscles are interferingwith the ability to move to the bathroom in time and causing incontinence.  Treatment isgeared toward improving joint motion, muscle strength, walking speed and safety. There are also Pelvic Health Physical Therapists who have specialized training inevaluating and treating a person’s pelvic floor muscles.  Pelvic floor muscles that areweak, tight or not working in a coordinated fashion can cause urinary incontinence. Pelvic Health (or Pelvic Floor) PTs are ideal providers to teach women and men how togain control over their bladder symptoms.  Treatments are generally very effective. They take place in a private setting and are pain-free.

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How can Physical Therapy help?

Give you control over your bladder and your lifeSave you money and embarrassment by requiring less pad protectionReduce the need for medications to control incontinencePotentially prevent the need for surgeryRehabilitate weak pelvic muscles after pelvic surgery

Pelvic Physical Therapy can:

Education on food and drinks that may worsen symptomsAdvice on how to change behaviors to reduce symptomsTechniques to help you learn how to correctly use the pelvic musclesPelvic floor exercises to strengthen the pelvic musclesExercises to stretch and strengthen other important musclesEducation on strategies to reduce urinary urgency and frequencyBiofeedback to show you how your muscles are workingElectrical stimulation to improve awareness and strength of the muscles

Pelvic Physical Therapy Treatment may include:

Urinary Incontinence: Causes, Symptoms, Physical Therapy Treatment

Leak urine during daily activitiesLeak urine when sneezing, coughing,laughing, lifting, or exercisingHave difficulty or hesitancy starting aurine streamHave a strong urge to urinate that mayor may not result in urine leakageFrequently urinate during the day (morethan every 3-4 hours)Urinate more than once during sleepinghoursHave difficulty getting to the bathroombecause of balance, weakness, or pain

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Who should be referred to aPelvic Health PhysicalTherapist? If you...

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