subject: TMI- anyone else leak when they sneeze? [print this page] TMI- anyone else leak when they sneeze? TMI- anyone else leak when they sneeze?
Frequent any internet chat board of new moms or health conscious women, and inevitably, you won't have to look through too many posts before you find one talking about urine leakage. Leakage may occur with strong urge, physical activity, or a combination of the two. Many women will report a gradual increase in symptoms until it interferes with every aspect of their lives.
Women with Urinary Incontinence
The common consensus among these women with urinary incontinence, is almost always, "oh, that's normal, I'm getting older"but it's not. Leakage of urine, while common after childbirth and pregnancy, does not have to be a unpleasant side effect that women must deal with. Often times, urinary leakage can be successfully managed with conservative care, and physical therapy can play a vital role in this process.
Specialized Physical Therapist
A physical therapist with specialized training in the women's health arena can assist with identification of the pelvic floor muscles, training of the patient in the correct performance of Kegel exercises, and education regarding good voiding habits. Patient's can often seen results of the treatments in as few as two sessions and many women report complete resolution of their urinary complaints through physical therapy.
Treatment sessions will include a thorough evaluation of the pelvic floor strength, endurance, and coordination. Patients will be instructed in how to isolate the pelvic floor muscles during Kegel exercise performance. Often times, biofeedback will be used to help the patient see what the muscle is doing as it is contracting. The therapist will discuss the patient's voiding habits, and teach them how to delay the urge and what is considered normal with regard to bladder habits.
Many patients are surprised about what they don't know about their urinary system and the muscles that support it, and the positive results achieved through pelvic floor physical therapy often leaves them asking themselves, "how did I think leaking was normal for all these years?"
PRORehab offers Women's Health Services at three locations in the St. Louis metro area:
