12/01/2020
Bladder Tip #9: See a Pelvic Health Physical Therapist
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A whopping 25-45% of women experience urinary incontinence in their lifetime. A recent review article says that pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT), as prescribed by a physical therapist, can cure or reduce incontinence (Doumalin et al 2018).
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If you are experiencing incontinence of any type, a pelvic health physical therapist is your best choice to help train your pelvic floor muscles. PFMT includes assessing pelvic floor and other core muscles along with helping you with the integration of the pelvic floor with your entire movement system. PFMT is not only about isolated contractions (aka ‘Kegels). In many cases, the pelvic floor muscles can be overworked, tight, and possibly painful.
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There is not a one size fits all treatment protocol, which is why you should seek help if these bladder tips do not resolve your symptoms fully. If you have pelvic floor muscle overactivity, the best initial treatment should focus on relaxing/lengthening the pelvic floor muscles. If you have pelvic floor muscle underactivity, the goal should be regaining strength, endurance and building control. And if you struggle with coordination, the goal should be retraining timing and control of the pelvic floor muscles.
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This concludes the Bladder Tips for the month of November. If you have questions or would like to set up a complimentary 15 minute phone consultation, click the link in the bio. Telehealth options are available most days, evenings and weekends in 30 and 60 minute treatments sessions at a discounted Winter Special.
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Dumoulin C, Cacciari LP, Hay-Smith EJC. Pelvic floor muscle training versus no treatment, or inactive control treatments, for urinary incontinence in women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2018 Oct 4;10(10):CD005654. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD005654.pub4. PMID: 30288727; PMCID: PMC6516955.
