What is Urinary Incontinence?

Do you pee when you laugh? Or often feel like you won’t make it to the toilet on time?

That might be Urinary Incontinence. Urinary Incontinence is any undesired leakage of urine and the loss of bladder control, which is a common problem that affects both men and women. According to the American Urological Association, one-quarter to one-third of men and women in the United States experience Urinary Incontinence.

There are different types of Urinary Incontinence which includes:

• Stress Incontinence – urinating when putting pressure on bladder by coughing, sneezing, exercising, laughing, or lifting heavy.
• Urge Incontinence – having an intense urge to urinate, followed by involuntary loss of urine. Includes urinating throughout the night.
• Overflow Incontinence – having frequent dribbling of urine because of a bladder that doesn’t empty completely.
• Functional Incontinence – physical or mental impairment that prevents you to be able to get to the toilet on time. An example is arthritis that gets in the way of
• Mixed Incontinence – experiencing more than one type of incontinence, as listed above.

There is a long list of factors that can cause it, which includes childbirth, abdominal weakness, diabetes, pregnancy, menopause, and more. It can also be an uncomfortable topic for some, despite it being a widespread condition! Those who are pregnant may also experience persistent Urinary Incontinence due to hormonal changes, and the growing weight of the fetus which can lead to stress incontinence.

But you don’t have to live in pain. Did you know physical therapy can actually help? Specifically, seeing a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist. A Pelvic Floor PT can help you create an individualized treatment program to help you improve your pelvic-floor muscle function. One can also help you improve control over your symptoms, as well as reduce the need for pads or incontinence medications, or even surgery! It’s much more than muscle strengthening when it comes to overcoming your Urinary Incontinence, it could also be about coordination, muscle imbalances, incorrect posture, core weakness, or even tight, overly active muscles.

Give us a call today if you or someone you know is experiencing or has been diagnosed with Urinary Incontinence and let’s figure it out together.