Physiotherapy and Urinary Incontinence

Bladder control problems are common for men and women of all ages.

Rushing to the toilet or ‘leaking’ when you cough, laugh or exercise is often caused by weak pelvic floor muscles.

WHAT IS URINARY INCONTINENCE

Urinary incontinence is fairly a common problem. It affects an estimated 20% of people over 40 years old. Incontinence can often be treated through exercises that improve the strength of your pelvic floor muscles.

TYPES OF INCONTINENCE

HOW CAN PHYSIOTHERAPy HELP TREAT INCONTINENCE

One of the main causes of incontinence in both men and women is weak pelvic floor muscles. If your incontinence is due to a weak pelvic floor, physiotherapy is a low-risk effective treatment that can resolve your problem via retraining of your bladder and strengthening of your pelvic floor muscles.

PHYSIOTHERAPISTS CAN

• Teach you how to use your pelvic floor muscles correctly
• Show you exercises to strengthen the muscles
• Discuss possible lifestyle changes which will help you manage the problem

WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN I SEE A PHYSIOTHERAPIST?

Your first session with your physiotherapist will include a detailed assessment, advice and exercise program to facilitate the re-learning process of strengthening the pelvic floor muscles.

If the pelvic floor muscles are weak, re-education and facilitation of the muscle contraction can be initiated with a low frequency muscle stimulator equipment which will then measure and visually display the muscular activity.

Once you have learned how to contract your pelvic floor muscles, you may visualize and monitor how well your muscles are working by incorporating exercises with biofeedback input.

Once you are comfortable and know how to contract your pelvic floor muscles, a home program will be tailored according to your needs.