Before even beginning to think about physical therapy, a patient should see a doctor, because incontinence can stem from a urinary tract or other infection, certain medications, or neurological problems linked to diseases such as Parkinson's and diabetes.
Whatever the cause, the condition is common
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Approximately one person in ten over the age of 65 has experienced urinary incontinence.
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Women are more likely than men to have it.
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In most cases, urinary incontinence is treatable, and a physical therapist can go far in helping a patient regain bladder control.
What is bladder retraining, and how does it help?
Bladder retraining is based on the notion that you can control your bladder rather than the other way around.
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To help a patient get the upper hand, a physical therapist will devise a plan that combines scheduled toilet visits and behavior modification.
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Dietary changes such as reducing bladder irritants like caffeine may be part of the program.
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Modifying a patient's behavior is another aspect of bladder retraining and is part of coping with urge incontinence. Urge incontinence can be a sign of an irritable bladder, and when someone rushes to go to the toilet at an unscheduled time, it doesn't help this kind of incontinence. If the urge -- and resisting the urge -- to go at an unscheduled time is an issue, a physical therapist can work with a patient on ways to relax, which include deep breathing and pelvic floor muscle exercises
What kind of exercises can help prevent incontinence?
The pelvic floor muscles support the bladder and help bladder control. If someone is incontinent, and can learn to strengthen those muscles, she has a better chance of improving her problem. "Women who did pelvic floor muscle training were more likely to report that they were cured or improved than women who did not," stated a review of studies involving 714 women published by the Cochrane Collaboration.
Reference: https://www.caring.com/articles/physical-therapy-for-incontinence
Picture: clearpathchiropractic
