4 Ways Pelvic Floor Therapy Can Help Women Regain Control

Certified pelvic rehabilitation practitioner Anna Sakhno, PT, DPT explores the symptoms and causes of urinary incontinence as well as 5 ways pelvic floor therapy can help treat this condition.

Urinary incontinence, or the loss of bladder control, is a common, distressing and embarrassing problem.

Urinary Incontinence Explained

Incontinence comes in different forms. One of the most common is stress urinary incontinence, or leakage triggered by activities that put vertical force on the abdomen such as jumping, running, sneezing and laughing. There is also urge incontinence, which is where the pelvic muscles are tight causing you to go to the bathroom more frequently. Many women have mixed incontinence, which is both.

Factors That May Put Women at Risk of Developing Incontinence

Certain factors can increase your risk of developing incontinence beyond giving birth or reaching menopause. These factors include smoking, obesity, repetitive heavy lifting or straining, trauma to the pelvic floor, and musculoskeletal issues in the lower back, hips, and pelvis.

4 Ways Pelvic Floor Therapy Can Help Treat Incontinence

1. Strengthen the Core and Pelvic Floor: Stress Urinary Incontinence is often caused by a weakening of the muscles and ligaments that support the bladder and urethra. Core and pelvic strengthening exercises help to strengthen those supportive muscles.
2. Treat Muscle Dysfunction and Tightness: Urge urinary incontinence occurs when the pelvic floor muscles and the connective tissue that surround them become chronically tight, short, and restricted. This tissue tightness puts extra pressure on the bladder and/or urethra signaling to the brain the need to urinate. In cases as such, exercises, pelvic floor relaxation, lower extremity stretching and breathing techniques can help to address muscle dysfunction and tightness.
3. Address Underlying Causes and Triggers: Identify and address underlying causes and triggers of urinary incontinence such as diet, fluid intake, and exercise habits.
4. Improve Symptoms in 6-10 weeks: You should see improvement in symptoms within 6-10 weeks of treatment. Treatment usually consists of one session a week with a certified pelvic rehabilitation practitioner, as well as performing prescribed at home exercises 3-5 times a week.

Advice for women suffering from urinary incontinence

Don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself. Unfortunately, many women choose not to seek help out of embarrassment or a lack of knowledge about the available treatment options. There are a number of treatments available ranging from lifestyle changes and pelvic floor physical therapy to medications and surgical interventions. It is important to understand that seeking help for your bladder and pelvic symptoms can improve your quality of life and should not be overlooked or dismissed.