Urinary Incontinence….is it inevitable?

Urinary incontinence is the most common symptom that is see in the clinic on a daily basis. Often I hear women thinking that this is just part of life, that this is inevitable. Whether we have had children or are getting older, or a little bit a both.

Is it common? Yes absolutely

Do we have to just deal with urinary incontinence? No, we can change this

There are many factors that can contribute to urinary incontinence. Although the most common thing we think of is that our pelvic floor is weak and we need to do kegals. But that is not always the answer. Below are a few other reasons behind the incontinence

1.) Pelvic floor Muscle Tension - Yes, a tight pelvic floor can also contribute to urinary incontinence. If you pelvic floor muscles are holding a lot of tension, they are often fatigued and cannot actually do their job. So when a cough or a sneeze happens, the pelvic floor cannot engage any further to actually support your internal organs.

2.) Timing and Sequencing of the Pelvic Floor - Much more than just pure strength of the pelvic floor, the pelvic floor needs to be able to respond. And usually, we arent thinking about engaging our pelvic floor when it needs to work, and we shouldn’t have to. The pelvic floor muscles work with your diaphragm, your deep core, and your hips and lower body. Therefore, when you jump, cough or sneeze, these muscles need to respond more like a trampoline, and quickly give that support to your bladder to prevent leaks.

3.) Hormonal Changes - Hormones play a big role in the function of the pelvic floor and the bladder. When we make the transition into perimenopause and menopause, estrogen levels drop which can significantly impact the ability of your pelvic floor muscles to work properly. Talking to your physician about possible estrogen creams or hormone replacement therapy, can also make a huge difference in urinary incontinence.

As you can see there are many factors that can contribute to urinary incontinence, and pelvic floor muscle strength is only a small part of it. Which is why seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist can make a huge impact on improving your symptoms, specific to you and all of your own individual factors at play.

We can improve this and we do not have to live with it!