Urinary incontinence is the unintentional passing of urine. It is a very common problem that is thought to affect about three million people in the UK.

Anyone can experience urinary incontinence, although it is more common in older people. The condition affects far more women than men, and it is thought to occur in one in five women who are over 40 years of age.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy can help with the following:

• Urinary stress incontinence
• Urge incontinence
• Faecal incontinence
• Pain related to the pelvic floor muscles
• Symptoms of prolapse

- Urinary stress incontinence occurs when the pelvic floor muscles are too weak to prevent urination.

- Urge incontinence is thought to occur as a result of incorrect signals being sent between the brain and the bladder.

These two types of urinary incontinence are thought to be responsible for up to 90% of all cases of the condition. It is also possible to have a mixture of both stress and urge urinary incontinence.

Up to two thirds of women with stress incontinence can be helped with pelvic floor physiotherapy.

Treatment options

Based on an initial assessment, treatment is initiated by the physiotherapist. Treatment may involve one or more of the following:

• Pelvic floor exercises
• BioFeedback
• Muscle Stimulation

General advice is always given, this will include (as appropriate):

• Bladder training
• Lifestyle changes

At all times patients are involved in the decision making process of their treatment plan and receive advice/exercise leaflets to support this.

• Self Referral
• Pelvic Floor Exercises for Women
• Fluid Intake For Bladder And Bowel Health
• Bladder Urgency And Bladder Retraining
• Improving Bowel Function and Control
• Dietary Fibre

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Pelvic Floor Exercises

The pelvic floor muscles are at the bottom of your pelvis supporting the pelvic organs.

Pelvic floor muscles are needed to:

• Aid bladder and bowel control
• Help prevent a prolapse of your pelvic organs
• Increase sexual enjoyment for you and your partner.

These muscles are just like any other muscles and get weaker if not exercised regularly. It is important for all women to be doing their pelvic floor exercises everyday to aid bladder and bowel control.

• Pelvic Floor Exercises for Women

If phsyiotherapy has not helped your symtpoms we can refer you onto a gynaecology consultant