All About Stress Urinary Incontinence
Do you pee a little when you laugh? Cough? Sneeze? Jump? ….. You may have stress urinary incontinence (SUI).
If that is the case you aren’t alone. Studies show that: 15 million women in the US are affected by SUI and 3.4 million men in the US are affected by SUI.
So, what is SUI? By definition it is an involuntary loss of urine due to an increase in intraabdominal pressure (nothing to do with being mentally stressed). What this means is that when we sneeze, cough, jump, lift or complete a functional movement which creates pressure in our abdomen, this pressure will exceed what our urethral sphincteric mechanisms can hold, resulting in a loss of urine. That could mean a few drops, or a whole bladder’s amount of urine.
Luckily this can change and a pelvic therapist can help .
What would working with a Pelvic Floor Therapist on SUI involve?
First, we would assess your pelvic floor muscles (levator ani); bladder location; and your urethral and fascial mobility surrounding your bladder and urethral sphincters.
If we find you have impaired levator ani strength we will complete a combination of manual therapy and create an exercise program to help you strengthen your pelvic floor muscles to better support your bladder
If we find that you may have increased mobility surrounding your urethra or a lower situated bladder, a pessary may be a good option to better support any lax tissues that may be present. And we can fit you for one here!
If we find that you have increased levator ani tone we would work on downtraining techniques along with manual therapy to better reduce this tension. Increased could lead to compression of your pudendal nerve which will inhibit the signal from the brain to the urethral sphincter and urethral muscles.
What is one thing you can try to correct this leaking?
Well firstly you can try to complete a “knack” in anticipation of a cough or sneeze or picking something heavy up.
What is a” knack”?
A knack is a gentle contraction of your pelvic floor muscles specifically situated in the front of your pelvic bowl (near your pubic bone). During a “knack” your bladder tissues and fascia are better supported.
How do you complete the “knack”? - for those with a vagina imaging lifting a blueberry into your clitoral region or stopping your pee midstream. For those with a Penis think “nuts to guts”.
While everyone’s situation, symptoms and underlying root causes for urinary incontinence are unique, one thing is certian, while it’s a common symptom, you don’t have to live with it and we are here to help!
If you are interested in learning more or working with us, click the link below to book your free consultation with one of our amazing Pelvic Floor Physical or Occupational Therapists!
Schedule your free 30 minute consultation with us today!
At Root to Rise Physical Therapy & Pelvic Health, we believe in a holistic approach to physical therapy. Our Doctors of Physical Therapists are specialized in treating both orthopedic and pelvic health conditions. Our practice also integrates acupuncture and yoga and we are always excited to be a resource for the community we practice in. We are located in Scarborough, Saco, and Bath, and are here to support you!
~Dr. Jenn & The Root To Rise Team
