I hope not!! But then I saw an advertisement for underwear that you can actually pee in….. YIKES!
As a physical therapist who specializes in Women’s Health I hear this complaint over and over again. Bladder issues are prevalent in all stages of life . I have seen women of all ages who report leakage with jumping, lifting, coughing, sneezing, as well as before, during, and after pregnancy.
What do all of these women have in common? Pelvic Floor Dysfunction including:
pelvic malignment
muscular imbalances in the hips and abdominals
low back pain and tightness
pelvic floor muscle tightness/weakness
food irritants/ intolerances
poor bladder habits
chronic constipation
hormonal imbalances
Imagine the pelvic floor as a trampoline. It tightens and gives with pressure from above, providing support, stability, and flexibility all at the same time. If that trampoline was suddenly placed on an incline or has a broken leg, it would still function but would be less stable in some places, providing less support and may even be damaged from those forces from above. You may not even realized it is damaged until you started to see fraying and holes where it pulls away from it springs.
When you experience any type of leakage, pain, burning, and even pressure down below this is your sign that the pelvic floor is not being supported in some way. An experienced pelvic health therapist will be able to identify the exact structures that are not functioning properly.
With better alignment, the pelvic floor is able to contract and relax normally and stop the flow of urine. Retraining your body and managing pressure around your diaphragm is key to solving these issues.
Where do you start? Try some simple diaphragmatic breathing. Often times this is the first step to unlocking the pelvic floor and allowing the muscles to regain balance. Improving hip and core strength, pelvic alignment, and learning how to coordinate breath with everyday movements is the key to bladder control.
Contact me for a complete evaluation and plan to help you regain control of your bladder and stop urinary leakage!
