Avoiding a trampoline, jumping, running or sudden movement like the plague? Is stopping to cross your legs before a sneeze starting to annoy you? Not laughing as much?
Urinary incontinence, bladder leakage, light bladder leakage (LBL) is very common. In fact, 1 in 3 women who have every had a baby wet themselves, 1 in 10 males and 1 in 5 children have difficulty with bladder control as well.
The good thing is… there is management for this! You do not have to accept it and just live with it. In fact, doing nothing, can make it worse.
What is urinary incontinence?
Continence is the ability to control your bladder and bowels.
Urinary Incontinence is any accidental loss of wee. There are various types, though the most common types are:
Urge Urinary Incontinence (UUI) is loss of wee associated with a sudden urge or busting sensation to wee. This can occur in men, women and children. UUI is more common with increasing age, and symptoms can worsen with stress/anxiety, caffeinated drinks, alcohol, and fizzy drinks. It may also occur because of aging, constipation, particularly in children, an enlarged prostate gland or be a result of long-term poor bladder habits – such as going to the toilet ‘just in case’ or ‘holding on’ for lengthy periods between wees.
Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) is the accidental leak of wee when exercising, coughing/ sneezing/laughing due to increasing abdominal pressure and “pushing down” on the bladder. This mostly occurs in women due to pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause, but can affect men who have had prostate surgery, those who lift heavy weights, or have chronic constipation/ strain at the toilet. Chronic coughing, diabetes and obesity has also been linked to SUI.
Did you know that pelvic health Physiotherapist can assist you…
Pelvic floor exercises are the first line of management and prevention for urinary leakage, along with lifestyle factors.
We can offer a comprehensive assessment to help you manage and prevent bladder control concerns. A pelvic health Physiotherapist can be part of your care team, along with help from your GP and possibly, Continence Nurse, Urologist, Gynaecologist/Urogynaecoloigst.
For more information or to book a pelvic health Physiotherapy appointment please contact us on 94486588
