Urinary incontinence, which is defined as involuntary loss of urine, affects up 38 percent of women and 7 percent of men. When the root cause of incontinence varies greatly, the condition is more prevalence among elderly individuals and pregnant women. Unfortunately, many people with bladder control problem do not seek medical advice due to the embarrassment associated with the condition and assume that they will just have to live with it. However, in most cases, the condition can be cured with pelvic physiotherapy.
What is Pelvic Physiotherapy?
Pelvic physiotherapy, as the name implies, is using physiotherapy approach to diagnose the root cause of conditions associated with pelvic muscles, urinary organs and women reproductive organs. A pelvic physiotherapist uses manual techniques in addition to specific exercises and education to restore the movement and function of pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic floor muscles are the muscles that attach to the front, back, and sides of sacrum and pelvic bones. These muscles support the bladder, uterus, and rectum. Urinary incontinence occurs due to hypertonic (tight) pelvic muscles which result in increased frequency and urgency of the bladder and bowels.
There are a number of research studies that recommend pelvic physiotherapy as a first-line therapy for urinary incontinence. In addition to this, pelvic physiotherapy is a more cost-effective option for treating incontinence than using different medicines, such as Duloxetine. The purpose of pelvic physiotherapy in treating incontinence is to restore the functionality of pelvic floor muscles and improve bladder control.
Urinary Incontinence? How Does a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist Can Help
Pelvic physiotherapy involves a lot more than exercises for strengthening pelvic floor muscles. During your consultation with a pelvic floor physiotherapist, you will be advised on how to identify the pelvic floor muscles and tighten or relax them. Your physiotherapist will teach you simple exercises focused around the pelvic floor muscles and core muscles. Using these exercises, you will be able to improve your bladder control. Other techniques that a pelvic floor physiotherapist may use to help a patient manage urinary incontinence include bladder retraining, posture education, and exercises for the abdomen.
For patients who are experiencing urinary incontinence along with some other health condition, such as interstitial cystitis or scarring of pelvic muscles after childbirth, a physiotherapist will develop a customized treatment plan to address bladder problems, as well as offer relief from the pain and discomfort associated with the disease. A pelvic health physiotherapist works closely with family physician, gynecologist or urologist to customize the treatment to the exact need of the patient.
If you are considering visiting a North York pelvic health physiotherapist, keep in mind that, although there are immediate improvements of pelvic dysfunctions with physiotherapy, a full recovery of incontinence symptoms may take up to 3 months. Pelvic floor physiotherapy is considered to be one of the most effective treatments available for urinary incontinence and it requires the active involvement of the patient for the best results. To learn more about how pelvic physiotherapy can help manage incontinence or to book an appointment with our North York physiotherapist, please call at 416 444 4800.
