What I Wish More People Knew About Urinary Incontinence!
Did you know.. .The FIRST-LINE of DEFENCE for the 2 MOST COMMON types of Urinary Incontinence (UI) is PELVIC FLOOR PHYSIOTHERAPY! (which are the 2 most common types of UI again? Keep reading to find out!)
I just had a really long drive in the car w/ my partner and told him that I'll be leading the next rounds meetings at my clinic. I think there are a lot of misconceptions with what I do there as the sole pelvic health physiotherapist and a TON MORE MISCONCEPTIONS about how to treat unwanted leaks. I hope my colleagues take home 3 key messages:
1) There is no ONE SOLUTION FITS ALL approach with treating UI - even if we're working towards the same goal.
I have two postpartum clients. They complain of the same thing, unwanted leakage with a big sneeze… and yet I’m treating completely differently for each person. This scenario is incredibly common! No two people are exactly alike when it comes to pelvic floor dysfunction. While I could be treating someone’s shoulder fascial restrictions for improvement of leakage, meanwhile the other person is seeing results with constipation management tips. We, as practitioners, should be spending a lot more time asking questions in the subjective interview, because the answer to the leakage always resides in the person’s life history! Period!
2) A HOLISTIC approach is oftentimes required to treat & prevent UI; therefore my colleagues could be actively involved in their journey! We need to collab w/ one another!
3) UI is NOT JUST about STRENGTHENING a WEAK PELVIC FLOOR MUSCLE! *SUBJECTIVE PELVIC HEALTH INTERVIEW IS THE KEY to managing one's UI!
In fact, sometimes, one’s pelvic floor muscle could be very strong yet still incontinence! Perhaps its coordination and awareness of these hidden muscles that needs to be brought to light. Perhaps there’s too much tension in the PFMs for the strength to be highlighted.
<If you’re not convinced, go read our blog post about ‘Why Kegels are Getting a Bad Rep Lately’>
The two most common types of UI are...
1) STRESS Urinary Incontinence
- This is when you experience a lil' bit of unwanted urine leaks when you perform an action that increases your intra-abdominal pressure like...
COUGHING
SNEEZING
LAUGHING
JUMPING
YELLING
SQUATTING
DEADLIFTING
VOMITING
AB CRUNCH
2) Mixed Urinary Incontinence
- This is when you have BOTH STRESS AND URGE urinary incontinence. You already know what STRESS UI is, so URGE UI is when you experience a larger amount of urine loss when you are reminded of something that encourages your pelvic floor muscles to relax too soon prior to sitting down on the toilet! Like when you hear running water, when you put the key in the door, when you press the elevator button, when you unbutton your pants....etc.
If its your 1st time hearing that BOTH of these types of unwanted leaks are MANAGEABLE~ and TREATABLE... then I want you to read this sentence AGAIN!
Whether you are...
a New Mom,
an Athlete with no kids,
a person going thru menopause,
a Cancer survivor,
a Crossfit Athlete,
a person with respiratory concerns and chronic cough,
a person with chronic gut issues,
a person with chronic pelvic pain, a person who is above the age of 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100+++
a HUMAN BEING....
You don't have to live in silence anymore. Find your nearest pelvic health physiotherapist and manage your leaks once for all! There's so much hope and help :)
Written with love and compassion,
Jane J. Bai MSc PT, MSc, BMSc
Pelvic Health & Orthopaedic Physiotherapist
200YTT
Instagram: @PelvicPro
YouTube: @BodyScanwithJane
Book an ONLINE Appointment here: https://pelvicpro.janeapp.com/
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