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January 11, 2019June 13, 2024
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Got Bladder Leakage?

LaNita Mortenson, PT, Physical Therapist, studio picture of older caucasian woman smiling, short grey hair and glasses, black shirtBy LaNita Mortenson, PT, Therapy Services

On average, women wait seven years from the first time they experience accidental bladder leakage to talk to a doctor! That is seven years of letting your bladder run your life. Men and women struggle with bladder leakage or urinary incontinence. While nearly 30% of people report suffering from urinary incontinence, there are many more suffering in silence. Do not be ashamed; this is very common. While common, it is not a normal part of aging. It is a medical problem that affects us emotionally, physically, and socially. Do not let the fear of peeing your pants stop you from enjoying life. Are you ready to commit to taking steps to treat and overcome your incontinence symptoms?

3 Types of Urinary Incontinence

There are three main types of incontinence – urge, stress, and mixed (a combination of urge and stress). Urge incontinence, or overactive bladder, is an urgent need to pass urine, and sometimes urine leaks before you have time to get to the toilet. Stress incontinence is urine leakage with physical movement or activity such as jumping, coughing, sneezing, running, or heavy lifting, due to increased pressure or stress on your bladder. Urinary incontinence can be both short-term and long-term.

Risk Factors for a Leaky Bladder

There are many risk factors for developing incontinence. These risk factors include a history of pelvic surgeries, pregnancies (this risk increases with multiple pregnancies), vaginal/cesarean deliveries, prostate issues (men), obesity, diabetes, stroke, decreased estrogen levels, high blood pressure, and use of certain medications.

Treatment Options

Though symptoms may differ for men and women, it remains important to address the cause of urinary incontinence to improve your quality of life. Before considering a surgical procedure, conservative options including physical therapy may offer you relief from your symptoms. One of the primary treatments for urinary incontinence is rehabilitation. Physical therapy rehabilitation is a non-surgical approach to treat the dysfunctions of the pelvis, giving you control over your bladder. It involves more than just Kegel exercises. Treatment consists of education, behavior modification, techniques to help you find your pelvic floor muscles and use them correctly, and exercises to strengthen affected muscles. The bladder and pelvic floor muscles can be trained.

Improve your lifestyle and quality of life – take the next step today. Be honest with your health care provider and they will help you choose a solution to fit your lifestyle. Your options will depend on the type and severity of your incontinence.