URINARY INCONTINENCE

Complaint of involuntary loss of urine on effort or physical exertion / Sporting activities like 

• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Laughing
• Lifting
• Bending 
• Straining

Complaint of a sudden, compelling desire to pass urine which is difficult to defer i.e., involuntary loss of urine associated with urgency.

Complaint of involuntary loss of urine associated with urgency and also effort or physical exertion or on sneezing or coughing.

Overactive bladder incontinence (OAB) is associated with a strong urgency to urinate and is often accompanied by frequent urination. 

If you are unable to make it to the bathroom, the type of leakage is classified as urgency urinary incontinence (UUI).

This type of incontinence occurs when the bladder doesn’t empty correctly, causing it to overflow and cause leaks. 

Signs of overflow incontinence include: 

Frequent, small urinations

Ongoing dribbling

The pelvic floor is made up of :-

• The pelvic floor muscles refer to the muscular layer of the pelvic floor. It includes the levator ani, striated urogenital sphincter, external anal sphincter, ischiocavernosus, and bulbospongiosus.
• ligaments

• fascial structures

that act together to support the pelvic organs and to provide compressive forces

• to the urethra during increased intra-abdominal pressure. 

Clinical Presentation

• Urine Leaking
• Urinary Frequency
• Urinary Urgency
• Nocturia
• Prolapse

Based on the evaluation results, your physical therapist will create an individualized treatment program to improve your pelvic-floor muscle function. Your physical therapist can help you:

• Gain control over your symptoms.
• • Reduce the need for pads and special undergarments, incontinence medications, and possibly surgery.

   

  Once individuals are performing pelvic-floor muscle contractions daily and correctly, they can begin to incorporate the exercises into their activities of daily living.

   

  Your physical therapist can provide information about:

  • Diet and nutrition, to help you avoid food and drinks that may irritate the bladder.
  • Changing the behaviors that make your symptoms worse.
  • Techniques to decrease urinary urge and frequency, such as muscle strengthening or stretching.
  • Maintaining a healthy bathroom schedule.
  • Drinking healthy fluids regularly to maintain hydration.
  • Maintaining a regular exercise regimen or active lifestyle.

The physical therapist will design an exercise program based on your condition to help you 

improve your pelvic-floor muscle function so you can better control your bladder.

Your treatments may include:

Kegel exercises.

• The Kegel exercise is performed by squeezing the sphincter muscles or imagining that you are trying to stop the flow of urine.

Biofeedback

• Depending on your symptoms and level of comfort, your physical therapist may gently employ electrodes to measure your pelvic-floor muscle activity.
•  The biofeedback obtained can help make you more aware of the correct way to use your pelvic-floor muscles.

Muscle strengthening exercises.

• Your physical therapist will teach you specific exercises to stretch and strengthen other important muscles that help support proper bladder function.

Electrical stimulation. 

• Your physical therapist may apply gentle electrical stimulation to help improve your awareness of your muscle function.

The physical therapist will design an exercise program based on your condition to help you 

improve your pelvic-floor muscle function so you can better control your bladder.

Your treatments may include:

Kegel exercises.

• The Kegel exercise is performed by squeezing the sphincter muscles or imagining that you are trying to stop the flow of urine.

Biofeedback

• Depending on your symptoms and level of comfort, your physical therapist may gently employ electrodes to measure your pelvic-floor muscle activity.
•  The biofeedback obtained can help make you more aware of the correct way to use your pelvic-floor muscles.

Muscle strengthening exercises.

• Your physical therapist will teach you specific exercises to stretch and strengthen other important muscles that help support proper bladder function.

Electrical stimulation. 

• Your physical therapist may apply gentle electrical stimulation to help improve your awareness of your muscle function.