Women's Health and Continence

Incontinence is a condition affecting many people of all ages.

It is not a disease in itself and can be treated with cost-effective, expert care from Downs Physiotherapy health professionals.

Described as the loss of voluntary control over bladder or bowel function, incontinence is not always a simple condition to assess and treat.

Its complexity lies is its many different causes.

You can suffer from incontinence following a pregnancy, childbirth or even if you haven't had children and there is a much higher risk of experiencing incontinence as a consequence of heavy lifting, obesity, constipation or a poor diet.

Children and young adults can also experience incontinence in the form of bed-wetting.

Incontinence can affect a person's self-esteem, motivation, dignity, independence and ability to enjoy intimate relationships.

Fortunately, however, the statistics indicate that incontinence can be cured or symptoms improved. (Continence Foundation of Australia)

Firstly, the successful treatment of incontinence requires motivation!

While it is a challenging process, often requiring a long commitment, the functional gains and independence that result are well worth the effort.

Perhaps you have made lifestyle concessions based around your condition?

Well the good news is that following treatment you may find yourself living a life not dictated to by something over which you have no control.

True, not everyone can be cured of incontinence.

However treatment can significantly reduce leakage and provide you with some great strategies for a management plan.

Incontinence of the bladder is usually divided into 3 categories. They are -

Urge incontinence - the sudden overwhelming desire to pass urine.

Sometimes the person becomes quite panicked believing they are not going to make it to the toilet in time without leaking urine.

This form of incontinence can be habitual prompting the person to empty their bladder 'just in case' especially when they are heading out to the shops or going for a drive.

Another contributing factor for urge incontinence is fluid intake.

Excessive caffeine or diuretic medication can affect fluid balance with caffeine acting as a bladder irritant.

This causes the bladder to contract resulting in the urge to urinate.

Common urgency triggers include 'key-in-door' syndrome.

This is where the person arrives home from shopping or another similar expedition and they are in control until they put their key in the house door.

At that moment, they experience a crucial urge to go to the toilet before they do anything else.

Failure to do so can result in leakage.

Stress incontinence - slightly more common than urge incontinence.

It is due to an increase in abdominal stress from coughing, laughing, jumping, sneezing etc.

Unable to cope with the sudden increase in pressure, the person experiences a small leakage.

Stress incontinence can be experienced while playing sport or during and after pregnancy resulting from pressure on the bladder wall and a lack of muscle strength following delivery.

Frequency incontinence - going to the toilet too often.

It is normal for an adult who drinks a reasonable amount of fluid to be able to fill 1-2 cups (200-500mls) with urine each time the bladder is emptied. (Continence Foundation of Australia)

This is usually achieved 4-6 times a day and no more than once or twice a night.

Increased frequency may require bladder retraining without which the person may find the condition affecting the quality if their life.

While the bladder can store up to 800mls to a litre of fluid, regularly storing above the 600mls is not advised.

Repetitive overstretching of the bladder can cause permanent damage.

Incontinence treatment at Downs Physiotherapy usually takes about five treatments over 3 months resulting in a high success rate and happy, comfortable, dry 'patients'.

Call Kristine Gosden 4632 6672 to enlist help today.