Stress Incontinence – Why Exercise Can Make The Problem Worse
Stress Incontinence Why Exercise Can Make The Problem Worse
Every woman understands the importance of regular exercise in maintaining a healthy body. But did you know that exercise, if not done correctly can aggravate stress incontinence? That's right you finally build up the motivation to go to the gym and sweat only to find out that you now have a new problem to worry about.
Women are particularly susceptible to stress incontinence thanks to the trauma that their pelvic floor muscles experience during pregnancy and childbirth. These muscles play an important role in supporting and positioning all of the organs in the lower abdomen including the bladder. When they are damaged or weakened they can no longer function properly and a common result is an involuntary flow of urine when the bladder is compressed by a stress.
Something as simple as a sneeze or a hearty laugh can apply enough pressure on a bladder that is not properly supported to cause an accident. Now imagine what situps, stair walking or weight training can do. The answer is not to stop training and exercising the answer is to exercise right.
Body posture is extremely important when exercising be it weight lifting or simple walking. Knowing how to do the exercise correctly can prevent damage, even permanent damage of the pelvic floor muscles. Keeping the body aligned and maintaining proper posture can go a long way in preventing that kind of damage. If you are uncertain if your posture fits the exercise, ask a coach or trainer to check you out and teach you the muscle memory tricks so that you can remember the right posture.
Even seemingly helpful exercises that stress on creating a strong core like palates and yoga can do a great deal of damage if not done correctly. However, if you are consistently doing either type of exercise under the supervision of a qualified trainer you are going to reap the benefits of solid continence health. Both of these forms strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and will make your chance of experiencing stress incontinence slim indeed.
We've talked about exercises that involve weight training and isometrics but those are not the only activities that can impact the health of your bladder. High impact aerobics can do an equal amount of damage and once again it's all about form. There is a genetic connection in activities like running and jogging and some women will be predisposed to incontinence because of this. But for the most part, proper posture and breathing control will minimize the risk stress incontinence.