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Physical Therapy for Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence may be caused by several different factors, including weakening muscles in the pelvic floor. The pelvic floor muscles are located in your pelvic region and support the bladder and control bowel, bladder and sexual functions. When these muscles weaken, urine leakage, also called urinary incontinence, occurs. Urinary incontinence occurs more frequently in women, but men also suffer from the disorder.

  1. Pelvic Floor Muscles

    • Strengthening pelvic floor muscles helps to give you more control over bladder function. First you must identify the correct pelvic floor muscles to strengthen. Imagine you are stopping the flow of urine by squeezing muscles in your pelvic region. These are the muscles that need to be exercised. Stand in front of a mirror and squeeze the muscles as you imagine you are stopping urine flow. Your stomach, leg or buttocks should not be tightening if the proper muscles in the pelvic area are being isolated. Women may feel a pulling up sensation when contracting these muscles, and men may feel their penis drawing in toward their body. Women can insert a finger into their vagina and try to tighten muscles surrounding it, then relax those same muscles. You should feel the muscles contract and relax. Practice tightening pelvic muscles until you are sure you have located the correct muscles. Do not practice with a full bladder or while actually emptying the bladder as this weakens bladder muscles.

    Biofeedback

    • Biofeedback helps women identify pelvic muscles when you have trouble locating them on your own. A small probe is inserted into the vagina and as you tighten the muscles surrounding it a measurement on a monitor reveals if you are squeezing the correct muscles. The device also tells you how long you held the contraction.

    Kegel Exercises

    • Kegel exercises strengthen pelvic floor muscles. Squeeze the pelvic floor muscles for a count of three, then relax the muscles for a count of three. Repeat this exercise 10 times, three times a day. Up the counts gradually until you get to a count of 10. Continue to do three sets a day. You may do the Kegels sitting down or standing up, whichever you prefer. Do not hold your breath and focus on tightening the pelvic area only.

    Results

    • Improvement in urinary incontinence should be seen in eight to 12 weeks. You may still experience some leakage if the incontinence was severe, but exercises should keep the disorder from getting worse. Add Kegel exercises as part of your daily exercise routine throughout your life to keep muscles strong to support the bladder.

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