10/24/2025
When you come to CTS for your PT evaluation, there's a good chance we'll ask about your fluid intake. 💦
Patients suffering from leakage, urgency, or pelvic pain sometimes decrease fluid intake in an effort to manage symptoms... but restricting fluid can exacerbate these issues. 💥
⬇ Inadequate fluid intake increases the concentration of urine, which can contribute to cognitive deficits, UTIs, kidney stones, headaches and more. 😧
In general, the medical community recommends consuming 60-80 oz. of fluids a day. 💧 Exercise, age, medications, and climate all impact the amount of fluid you should drink.
Fluid type is an equally important consideration in many pelvic floor conditions.
For most people, water should make up the majority of daily fluid intake. So, what about caffeine and alcohol? 🤔
☕ Caffeine is a diuretic – drinking any beverage with does not carry the same ounce for ounce benefit as water.
Additionally, the acidity of the beverage, or qualities such as , can decrease the bladder’s ability to expand and fill.
🍺 Alcohol blocks the signal to the kidneys to hold onto fluid that normally occurs to maintain proper hydration levels, leading to more ‼
Alcohol has a relaxant effect on the musculature of the body, which may reduce the ability of the pelvic floor to contract at the right time to prevent leakage.
Everyone is different, and trial and error is important to rule out impact of irritants on bladder symptoms.
If you experience leakage, urgency, or pelvic pain, a bladder diary is a good place to start ✍
This allows you to systematically eliminate potential irritants and track your urinary symptoms (frequency, urgency, and leakage) for a few days.
Questions about starting a bladder diary, how much fluid or what type of fluid you should be drinking?
We got you! 858-457-8419 📞
