Incontinence, or lack of bladder/bowel control, is a symptom brought on by a broad range of conditions and disorders including childbirth, general physical weakness, hormonal changes, aging, or injury. The leaks can be a few drops to a full bladder release. The two common types are stress and urge incontinence. As a result of incontinence, many people may suffer emotional as well as physical discomfort. It is estimated that one in four women ages 30-59 have experienced an episode of urinary incontinence. It occurs in children and young adults, but the largest age group affected is the elderly.
If you answer ‘yes’ to several of the following questions, you may have stress or urge incontinence:
- Do you leak during exercise, coughing, sneezing, laughing, or any body movement which puts pressure on the bladder?
- Do you void more frequently than once every three hours?
- Do you experience an urgent need to toilet when running water, passing by a bathroom, or upon entering home after an outing?
At Orthopedic & TMJ Physical Therapy Center, in a comfortable, safe environment, we use biofeedback, exercise, visceral mobilization, diet education, timed toileting, and other modalities as needed. A combination of these safe, effective techniques can give you the control you desire.
Tips you can use:
Do not toilet more frequently in an attempt to avoid leakage. Reduce your caffeine intake and replace with plain water.