Understanding Urinary Incontinence: How Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Can Help
Kaitlyn Swartz, MPT, B.H.K (Hons), RMT, CAT(C)
Urinary incontinence is common but it shouldn’t be considered normal, and it often affects millions of individuals worldwide. It can significantly impact daily life, confidence, and overall well-being. Fortunately, pelvic floor physiotherapy offers effective solutions to improve bladder function and restore pelvic floor health.
Types of Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence can present in different forms, with the most common types being stress urinary incontinence (SUI), urge incontinence, and mixed incontinence.
Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) occurs when pressure on the bladder, such as from coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting something heavy or jumping, causes urine leakage.
Urge Incontinence, also known as overactive bladder, involves a sudden and intense need to urinate, often leading to involuntary leakage before reaching the bathroom.
Mixed Incontinence is a combination of both stress incontinence and urge incontinence, making it more challenging to manage. It often requires a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses multiple pelvic floor symptoms.
What Happens to the Pelvic Floor in Urinary Incontinence?
The pelvic floor muscles play a crucial role in bladder control. They support the pelvic organs, including the bladder, and help regulate urinary function. When these muscles become weak or tight, their ability to properly contract and relax is compromised, leading to urinary leakage, urgency, or both.
Weak pelvic floor muscles can result from pregnancy, postpartum changes, pelvic organ prolapse, chronic constipation, or a lack of pelvic floor rehabilitation.
Tight pelvic floor muscles may contribute to bladder dysfunction, pelvic pain, and even sexual dysfunction.
Pelvic floor dysfunction occurs when the pelvic muscles do not function correctly, either being too weak to provide support or too tight to allow proper bladder emptying.
A proper pelvic floor assessment conducted by a pelvic floor physiotherapist can determine the exact cause of incontinence and guide an appropriate treatment plan.
Good Bladder Habits for Pelvic Health
Maintaining good bladder habits is essential for preventing and managing urinary incontinence. Here are some tips to support bladder function:
Stay Hydrated: Drinking enough water (but not excessively) helps maintain healthy bladder function.
Avoid Bladder Irritants: Reduce consumption of caffeine, alcohol, artificial sweeteners, and acidic foods that may irritate the bladder.
Don’t Hold It Too Long: Urinating every 2-4 hours prevents overstretching of the bladder.
Practice Proper Toileting Position: Sit in a relaxed position with feet flat on the floor and avoid pushing or straining.
Train Your Bladder: If you experience frequent urges, try bladder retraining techniques guided by a pelvic physio.
How Can Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Help?
Pelvic health physiotherapy offers evidence-based treatment for urinary incontinence by addressing the root cause of pelvic floor symptoms. A pelvic floor physiotherapist will conduct a thorough internal assessment and create a customized treatment plan. Treatment may include:
Pelvic Floor Exercises: Strengthening exercises, such as Kegel exercises, help improve pelvic floor function for those with weak pelvic muscles.
Pelvic Floor Relaxation Techniques: For individuals with a tight pelvic floor, relaxation exercises and manual therapy can release tension and improve bladder function.
Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation: A comprehensive approach, including biofeedback and neuromuscular re-education, helps retrain the pelvic muscles.
Education and Lifestyle Modifications: Guidance on posture, breathing, and behavioral changes can support pelvic health disorders management.
Internal Exam and Manual Therapy: A pelvic floor physiotherapist may perform an internal exam to assess muscle tone and function and provide hands-on treatment.
At Proactive Pelvic Health Centre, our specialized team is dedicated to helping individuals regain control over their bladder and improve their overall pelvic health. Whether you’re experiencing postpartum changes, pelvic organ prolapse, or persistent pelvic pain, our tailored physiotherapy approach can help restore pelvic floor health.
Conclusion
Urinary incontinence is a treatable condition, and pelvic floor physiotherapy offers a non-invasive and effective solution to improve bladder control. Understanding the role of the pelvic floor muscles, adopting good bladder habits, and seeking help from a qualified pelvic floor physiotherapist can significantly improve quality of life. If you’re struggling with stress incontinence, urge incontinence, or mixed incontinence, don’t hesitate to seek professional guidance.
Resources:
Dumoulin C, Hay-Smith J. "Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment for urinary incontinence in women: A Cochrane review." Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018.
Abrams P, Andersson KE. "The physiology of the lower urinary tract and its relevance to urinary incontinence." Urology. 2020.
Bo K, Frawley HC. "Evidence-based physical therapy for the pelvic floor." Elsevier Health Sciences, 2014.