Breaking the taboo on urinary leaking and the pelvic floor.

Do you accidentally leak urine throughout the day? Most people wouldn’t think of seeing a physiotherapist for help with issues such as bladder or bowel leakage and in fact most people would accept leaking as a normal part of the aging process or as a result of having children. Whilst incontinence is common in both men and women, it should not be thought of as normal, and it can result in avoidance of social situations or activities and increase the risk of anxiety and depression. Incontinence affects 1 in 4 adults.

A pelvic health physiotherapist can help with incontinence by:

• Designing an individual exercise program to target effective contraction, endurance or relaxation of your pelvic floor muscles.

• Assess your bladder capacity and test for any bladder retention using an ultrasound machine.

• Ensure that you are correctly activating and relaxing your pelvic floor by using an ultrasound machine or by use of an external visual examination.

• Assess your pelvic floor muscle strength and coordination.

• Educate you on healthy bladder and bowel habits in managing your incontinence.

• Advise daily strategies and lifestyle changes to manage your incontinence.

• Utilize a bladder diary to track your progress and to train your bladder to confidently hold on to your wee for longer!