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Urinary Incontinence | ||||||||||||||||
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| Urinary incontinence
is a common problem that affects both men and women. It is more common in
women, with 1 in 4 being affected. Although it can be a distressing and
embarrassing condition it is often successfully treated with
physiotherapy. Some people are more prone to incontinence, for example,
after pregnancy and those with generalised hypermobility (joint laxity)
are more likely to suffer from this problem. There are different types of incontinence: Stress Incontinence This is the most common type of incontinence and occur when urine leaks from the bladder. Activities such as coughing, sneezing, playing sport or sexual intercourse put pressure on the muscles of the pelvic floor. These muscles can also be weakened by obesity and constipation. Before a period and after the menopause hormone levels fluctuate, which can reduce the tone of the pelvic floor muscles, increasing the potential for incontinent episodes. Urge Incontinence Urge incontinence is when you realise that you've got to go to the toilet but are unable to make it in time. There are various drugs that can be prescribed to help this problem and it is advisable to consult your G.P. concerning this matter. Mixed Incontinence This occurs when Stress and Urge Incontinence are present together. The Pelvic Floor Muscle The pelvic floor muscles act like a hammock supporting the bladder, womb and bowels. These muscles start at the pubic bone and end at the coccyx (tailbone). The bladder tube (urethra), vagina and anus all open through these muscles. The urethral and anal openings are controlled by sphincters which act like washers. When you urinate these muscles and sphincters relax. They remain contracted and tight at other times. If these muscles become weakened incontinence may occur. Weakening of these muscles may also allow the bladder, bowel or womb to prolapse into the vaginal passage. Good pelvic floor muscles will improve your sex life. Frequency of Urination The bladder is a storage organ made of muscle. It should be able to hold approximately a pint of urine and this is achieved by maintaining its ability to stretch. If one goes to the toilet too often, for instance 'just in case' before going out, the bladder never reaches its full stretch. Consequently over time it can shrink and cause an inability to hold a lot of urine. Therefore frequent visits become essential. It should be possible to go 2-3 hours between toilet visits. Good Bladder Control The average number of visits a day to the toilet is considered to be between 6-8. If you go more frequently than this try to delay going to the toilet, gradually increasing the time between visits up to 3 hours. This will therefore train the bladder to hold more urine. The development of good pelvic floor muscle tone and avoiding 'just in case' toilet visits will reduce the chance of incontinence. Physiotherapy for Incontinence On you first visit an experienced Chartered Physiotherapist will carry out a detailed examination. This will involve asking you questions about your problem and your general health. It is usually necessary to do an internal examination in order to assess the strength of the pelvic floor muscles. The Physiotherapist will discuss her examination findings with you and devise a treatment and self management plan. This will include a specific pelvic floor strengthening programme. Other treatments can include bladder training and electrical stimulation to re-educate the pelvic floor muscle. Treatments are carried out in a private room and are entirely confidential. If you think you may benefit from treatment or have any queries, our specialist Belinda Whippey, will be pleased to discuss your problem with you in complete confidence. Please contact us at: info@surreyphysiotherapy.co.uk or Telephone: 020 8660 8070 to discuss your requirements further. Alternatively fill in the form on the contact page |
