|
This program offers conservative management of incontinence, pelvic pain as well as pre and post-partum complications. We utilize physical therapy techniques, including therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, electrical modalities, ultrasound and bio feedback to treat disorders of the pelvis.
Treatments consist of one-on-one physical therapy sessions, usually lasting 1 to 1-1/2 hours. An average patient will have 4 to 6 visits over a 2-3 month period. Most patients are referred by their urogynecologist, urologist, OB/GYN or family practitioner.
Stress Incontinence
Stress incontinence is a leakage of small amounts of urine when their is increased pressure on the bladder. This can happen with exercise, sneezing, coughing, lifting or other activities. Stress incontinence usually results from weakness and lack of supportin the muscles of the pelvic floor. These are the muscles that work to strengthen the lower back, stabilize the pelvic bones and help with sexual function.
Causes of under active pelvic floor muscles include:
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Injury or trama
- Surgery in the vagina or rectum
- Episiotomy (during childbirth)
- Lack of exercise and lack of use
Women with stress incontinence often have "under active" pelvic floor muscles. Physical therapy treatment involves activating and strengthening these important muscles.
Urge Incontinence
Urge Incontinence is the leakage of medium to large amounts of urine when a person feels a sudden strong urge to urinate. Physical therapy treatment involves improving control and awareness of the pelvic floor muscles, as well as activating and strengthening them.
Some possible causes of urge incontinence are:
- Poor sensation and not being aware that the bladder is full
- Neurologic problems such as stroke
- Enlarged prostate in men
- Malfunction of the bladder
Mixed Incontinence
Mixed incontinence symptoms of both stress and urge incontinence. Possible causes can include any combination of the causes of stress and urge incontinence . Treatment also needs to address both contributions.
Functional Incontinence
Functional Incontinence is urine leakage that occurs when a person can not get to the toilet in time. Physical therapy treatment for functional incontinence involves improving mobility, and learning ways to plan for bladder control.
Causes include:
- Join pain or muscle weakness
- Problems with mobility
- Confusion, dementia or delirium
- Environmental barriers (i.e., the bathroom is too far away, use of a walker or cane, too many obstacles to navigate around)
- Psychological problems such as depression or anger
Why Physical Therapy?
Physical Therapists are healthcare experts in evaluating and treating the muscles, joints and the movement of the human body. Urinary incontinence is just one of the many things that can happen because of weak muscles or dysfunction through the pelvis.
For more information on Women's Health Physical Therapists who treat urinary incontinence, call 901.767.3061 for the Pelvic Rehabilitation Program at Methodist Healthcare.
|
