Stress Incontinence – The Exercise You Need To Add To Your Routine
Stress Incontinence The Exercise You Need To Add To Your Routine
You're a new mother and you have decided to get serious about losing those few extra pounds that you gained during the pregnancy. You sign up for an exercise class at the local "Y" and that when you experience stress incontinence for the first time.
How can this be happening? You're young and in good shape. How can something as embarrassing as an uncontrolled leakage of urine be happening to you? Well the answer probably lies in the very exercises that you are doing to lose weight.
New Moms may be in for a new experience
Many women will experience stress incontinence particularly those who have been through a pregnancy and childbirth. The muscles that control your bladder and the urethra are called the pelvic floor muscles and they often get stretched, torn or otherwise damaged during a pregnancy. When these muscles are too weak to perform their task outside stress can cause the bladder to involuntarily dribble out urine.
That outside stress doesn't have to be too much. A sneeze, a laugh or over exerting lifting an object can set it off. Imagine how it will react to that jazzercise class you are taking. Other exercises that can aggravate the situation include weight training, situps and high impact aerobics like jogging or running and even yoga and palates if done incorrectly..
Done stop exercising, just exercise smart
Now this doesn't mean you shouldn't exercise it means you should add one more exercise to your routine and that's an exercise called Kegel. Kegel exercises are isometric exercises that target the pelvic floor muscles. These exercises require no special equipment and can be performed anywhere including sitting down. Done properly they will tone up the pelvic muscles and provide bladder support that will prevent further leakage.
And your original idea of losing weightthat's a good preventative move as well. Excess weight, particularly around the belly puts stress on the bladder that it simply doesn't need. Losing weight either through diet or exercise or a combination of the two will greatly enhance your continence health.
Managing the condition
In the meantime you may want to consider using an incontinence product to manage your condition. Pads and panties that are discreet and invisible under cloths and workout outfits can give you the confidence you need to vigorously attack your exercise of choice. Stress incontinence is curable in most cases and is not a reason to alter your busy lifestyle.