Incontinence: Say goodbye to leaks with pelvic floor exercises

It can be caused by weakness of the pelvic floor muscles which can be impacted by prostate surgery, heavy lifting, being overweight, getting older, constipation, pregnancy and childbirth, or even having a prolonged cough.

Experiencing a leakage of urine when sneezing, coughing, running or jumping are all signs that you may be experiencing stress incontinence.

Visiting the bathroom more than six times a day, or more than once overnight and only passing a small amount of urine during each toilet visit may indicate an issue with urge or frequency. Feeling the need to be close to a toilet at all times can become stressful and impact your quality of life.

Luckily, in many cases, strengthening the pelvic floor muscles and making lifestyle changes can help and prevent symptoms getting worse.

The pelvic floor muscles are a group of muscles that act like a hammock attaching at the front on the pubic bone and at the rear at the coccyx which support our bladder, bowel and also the uterus in women. Just like our leg or arm muscles, if not used, the pelvic floor muscles can become weak.

But with an appropriate strengthening program, pelvic floor exercises can be done without any equipment and can be performed anywhere and anytime once you know how.

Link Health and Community has physiotherapists and exercise physiologists to help with incontinence issues in Melbourne’s east and south east and eastern Victoria.