subject: Light Adult Incontinence - Are Kegel Exercises Right For You? [print this page] Light Adult Incontinence - Are Kegel Exercises Right For You?
As people age, and particularly women, the muscles of the pelvic floor can lose their tone and become weakened inviting the onset of light adult incontinence. These muscle sets support the organs in the abdomen including the bladder. When that support is weakened the bladder becomes susceptible to both exterior and interior stress. Simple actions like sneezing, coughing or a hearty "belly" laugh can provide enough pressure to cause a slight involuntary discharge of urine.
Women are particularly vulnerable to this condition especially if they have been through one or more pregnancies and childbirths. The stretching and otherwise damaging of the pelvic floor muscles may result in pressure on the bladder from other organs as they move in the body from lack of support, or the collapse of the bladder itself.
Light adult incontinence in men is typically the result of an enlarged prostate. However, couple that condition with a weakened set of abdominal muscles and the likelihood of suffering from incontinence is greatly increased.
For both sexes being overweight can also increase pressure resulting in incontinence.
The first step in treating this condition is a stop at your doctor's office. He or she can asses the status of your muscles either through a digital exam or with a Kegel perineometer. Once it is established that your incontinence is indeed caused by weakened pelvic floor muscles, your doctor will probably prescribe Kegel exercises to strengthen them.
Kegel exercises involve identifying the muscle group and then contracting them, hold the contraction and then release. This sounds simple but you may have difficulty identifying just what you want to contract at first. The good news is these exercises yield results although it usually takes 3 months to build enough strength to end most light adult incontinence cases. One of the side benefits is that you may end up with tighter abs and a flatter belly.
So if you experience incontinence, please just don't accept it as part of the aging process. There is ample help to cure or manage the condition which will allow you to continue life the way you always have.
