Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control that makes it harder to hold urine. 13 million Americans ages 15-64 have some type of incontinence problem. It is more common in older adults. The idea that nothing can be done for a leaking problem is not true. You may need physical therapy to strengthen your core muscles. This will help you overcome this issue and improve your quality of life. This special type of physical therapy is called pelvic floor rehabilitation.

Assessment by a physical therapist can include:

• Find out of the type of issue – stress, urge or mixed urinary incontinence and/or fecal incontinence.
• Look at your medical history and other things that may be causing your condition.
• Strength testing pelvic floor muscles and abdominal muscles.
• Motion and strength of surrounding muscles – including the feet, knees, hips and low back.

Treatment may include the following:

• Exercises to help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. This includes different types of Kegels.
• Range of Motion (ROM) stretching and strengthening of hips and back.
• Strengthening and balancing of core muscles.
• Urge suppression and bladder retraining.
• Use of EMG (electromyography) to measure muscle and nerve response.
• Use of electrical stimulation to improve muscle strength.
• Education on foods or drinks that may irritate the bladder.

Our goal is to help our patients improve their bowel and bladder control in a comfortable, private setting. Ask your doctor for a referral to see a pelvic floor physical therapist to get started!