Treatment options • Exercises that focus on increasing awareness, control and strength of your pelvic floor muscles based on your individual examination o For example, learn how to contract your pelvic floor by sitting quietly in a chair and draw up and in, away from the chair as if you are holding back gas • Relaxation techniques or positions to allow your body, nerves and muscle to relax • Monitoring type of food/fluid intake to decrease leakage • Manual therapy to decrease trigger points, relax muscles/tissues and provide feedback • Computerized biofeedback to monitor muscle activity for improved control of the pelvic floor • Electrical stimulation to decrease urgency symptoms or help strengthen weak pelvic floors
To learn more or to schedule an appointment with a physical therapist, please call Mercy Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center Janesville, at (608) 755-7880, or Mercy Walworth Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation Center, at (262) 245-4980.
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Take control over your bladder
Take control over your bladder
What can I do?
The loss of bladder or bowel control, also called incontinence, affects both men and women and is a symptom of an underlying problem. It can also be associated with pelvic pain during urination, passing stool, or intercourse, and can even cause pain in the hips, low back and abdomen. Incontinence can affect a person physically, mentally and emotionally, as well as affect a person’s ability to take part in everyday activities. Fortunately, with the help of a physical therapist, these symptoms can be reduced and in some cases go away completely.
Factors that contribute to incontinence and pelvic pain • • • • • • • • • •
Pregnancy and childbirth Pelvic injury or surgery Conditions involving the nervous system High-impact physical activities Menopause Obesity Urinary or vaginal infections Straining when passing stool Prostate enlargement Prostate surgery
• Talk to your doctor about your leakage or pain, and ask for a referral to physical therapy • Talk to your physical therapist about the history of your problem including: o Pelvic surgery history o Childbirth history (if appropriate) o Leakage (amount and how often) o Sexual history related to leakage or pain o Pain history (when and where) • Your physical therapist will perform both an internal and external exam looking at how your pelvic floor functions, including: o Ability to feel touch or pain o Muscle tightness or looseness o Strength of the pelvic floor o Ability for muscle to relax o Skin condition • Your therapist will create an individualized treatment plan