Is urinary leakage normal?

Do you leak urine when you sneeze, cough, or run? Do you leak urine when you lift something heavy? Do you have to wear a pad to protect your clothes from leakage? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, you are not alone. In fact, you are among the millions of women who suffer from urinary leakage.

There are many different types of urinary leakage, and the cause can vary from woman to woman. However, the most common type of leakage is stress urinary incontinence (SUI), which is caused by weak or damaged pelvic floor muscles.

The good news is that there are many effective treatments for SUI, including pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT), pelvic floor exercises, and, in some cases, surgery. If you are suffering from SUI, don’t suffer in silence – seek help from a pelvic floor specialist today.

What is urinary leakage?

Urinary leakage is a common condition that affects millions of women worldwide. It is also known as stress urinary incontinence, and it occurs when a person involuntarily leaks small amounts of urine when put under stress or strain. It can happen when someone laughs, sneezes, coughs or lifts something heavy. It can also be caused by pregnancy, childbirth, certain surgeries, and certain medications. The weak or damaged pelvic floor muscles are usually the cause of SUI. Without strong pelvic floor muscles, a person’s ability to control their bladder is impaired. This can result in involuntary leakage when put under strain.

Why does it happen after childbirth?

Childbirth is one of the most common causes of SUI. During childbirth, the muscles and ligaments that support the bladder and urethra become stretched. This can cause the pelvic floor muscles to weaken, leading to SUI. It is estimated that nearly one-third of all women will experience some form of incontinence after childbirth. And for those who have experienced multiple births, the risks are even greater. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the risk of incontinence after childbirth. Regular kegel exercises can help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and may lessen the chance of developing post-partum incontinence. Additionally, engaging in regular pelvic floor physical therapy (PFTP) can help with recovery and strengthening of the pelvic floor.

How can you manage urinary leakage?

Fortunately, there are many effective treatments for SUI. Pelvic floor physical therapy (PFTP) is a type of rehabilitation that specifically focuses on strengthening the pelvic floor muscles. During PFTP, a trained physical therapist will teach you how to properly perform kegel exercises and other therapeutic exercises which can help. These exercises can help strengthen and restore the function of the pelvic floor muscles, reducing stress urinary incontinence. A trained pelvic floor physical therapist can also look at other structures which might be contributing to your leakage; such as hips, core back and overall general body mobility. Additionally, some medications can help manage SUI. Medications such as estrogen or bladder relaxants can help strengthen the muscles around the bladder and urethra and lengthen the time before a person needs to empty their bladder.

Other things to keep in mind

If you are experiencing urinary leakage, it is important to seek help from a qualified physical therapist to help not only asses the reasons why you're having leakage, but also develop a plan of care that can help you move forward from the leakage. Don’t feel ashamed or embarrassed – millions of women suffer from this condition and there are effective treatments that can help improve your quality of life. Additionally, it is important to practice good bladder management, including limiting your consumption of caffeine, avoiding spicy foods, and drinking plenty of fluids. Lastly, do not hesitate to speak to call your local pelvic floor physical therapist to start you on your journey to healing today. At enCORE physical therapy, we can see you in the state of Kansas without a doctor's referral. So give us a call today if you are in the Kansas City area and we can help you!