As we begin a new year and decade, many people establish resolutions for themselves, one of the most common being to become more physically active. The unfortunate reality is, for some individuals, they often will not begin exercising as a result of bladder leakage, also called incontinence. Urinary incontinence is typically seen in 1 in 4 women, and 1 in 9 men. These people often feel frustrated, embarrassed and suffer in silence because they think that their condition is normal or that it cannot be treated. To those suffering, I say to you – you are not alone and that there is help available. Thankfully Pelvic Health Physiotherapy treatment can help anyone suffering from pelvic floor dysfunction!
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What is the Pelvic Floor you ask?
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that run all the way from the pubic bone to the tailbone, and play many important roles:
- It acts like a sphincter for bowel and bladder control
- It provides support for our pelvic organs
- It works with our core muscles to provide postural stability
- It provides accommodation for sexual activity
- It functions like a sump-pump to move fluid out of our legs and pelvis
When we talk about incontinence and the pelvic floor, its important to distinguish between the different types of urinary incontinence in order to provide optimal care for our patients.
Stress incontinence is leaking of urine which cannot be easily controlled, when performing a physical activity, such as coughing, sneezing, sporting activities or suddenly changing position.
Urgency incontinence happens with a sudden, strong need to urinate. This can often lead to not making it to the toilet in time to urinate, resulting in leakage.
Mixed incontinence is where someone has both stress and urgency incontinence.
Pelvic Floor Muscle Therapy has been shown to be the first-line treatment for women with urinary incontinence, according to the authors of a recently updated Cochrane Systematic Review.
Therefore, if you are suffering with urinary incontinence, speak with a Registered Physiotherapist who is Certified in Pelvic Health. With an individualized treatment program, you can look forward to greater benefits in your quality of life and get back on track with your fitness goals!
Article provided by Registered Physiotherapist and Certified Pelvic Health Provider, Olivia Drodge. Olivia is a Certified Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist, specializing in conditions related to pelvic organ prolapse, incontinence, diastasis, vaginismus/dyspareunia, urinary frequency/urgency, pre and postpartum and persistent pelvic pain. Additionally, she received her Mindfulness Meditation Certification through a completion of a post-graduate course at the University of Toronto. She has experience treating all genders and continues to take specialized courses in Pelvic Health. Olivia is passionate about providing client's the highest quality of care in aims to help improve their overall physical and emotional well-being. Her treatment philosophy emphasizes on an individualized, and evidence-based approach with a focus on education, to help empower and motivate her client's to become actively involved in their rehabilitation.
References:
Dumoulin C, Cacciari LP, Hay‐Smith EJC. Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2018, Issue 10. Art. No.: CD005654. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD005654.pub4.
Faghani, N. “Don’t Let Incontience Run your Life”. Retrieved on: https://uresta.uk/dont-let-incontinence-run-life/
Pelvic Health Solutions. Retrieved: https://pelvichealthsolutions.ca/for-the-patient/what-is-pelvic-floor-physiotherapy/
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