YOU WOULDN’T PUT UP WITH A LEAKING ROOF SO WHY PUT UP WITH INCONTINENCE?
DO YOU HAVE A BLADDER CONTROL PROBLEM?
About 4 Million Australians of all ages have urinary incontinence and suffer in silence, but they don’t need to. If you have a bladder control problem, you are not alone.
What is poor bladder control?
Urinary incontinence is the accidental leakage of urine, but you do not have to leak urine to have a bladder control problem.
People with poor bladder control may:
– Need to hurry to get to the toilet to pass urine
– Wet themselves before they can get to the toilet
– Go to the toilet frequently throughout the day or several times at night
– Lose urine on exertion, such as getting up from a bed or chair, or laughing, coughing or sneezing
– Wet themselves and be unaware of it
– Have trouble passing urine
These symptoms are not okay and they are not normal, they are signs of a weak pelvic floor.
The Pelvic Floor can be injured by child birth, being overweight, ongoing constipation, a chronic cough, improper/excessive abdominal exercises and pelvic surgery. The muscles need to be rehabilitated to recover otherwise the risk of incontinence increases.
What are the types of incontinence?
Stress incontinence is the accidental leakage of urine that occurs when sneezing, laughing, coughing, exercising or otherwise putting stress on the pelvic floor. When the downward pressure of the abdomen exceeds the upward strength of the pelvic floor the external urethral sphincter cannot remain closed and leakage occurs. Treatment involves the strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles.
Overactive bladder (OAB), previously known as “urge incontinence” is a sudden and urgent desire to urinate and/or the inability to hold urine until a toilet is reached. Treatment involves the strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles and mastering the art of deferring the urge.
Mixed incontinence is a mix of the two.
Alison has a special interest and specific training in Women’s Health Physiotherapy and Continence management. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms you don’t have to put up with them. Contact Reception to make an appointment.
