Incontinence

Men’s and women’s health are seldom discussed in the community, despite the prevalence of incontinence and the effect it can have on a person’s quality of life. In fact, up to 65% of women, and 30% of men sitting inside doctors waiting rooms have some form of incontinence, less than one third of these people will discuss these issues with a health professional. Incontinence can affect people of all ages, however it is more common in certain populations such as women who have had children, those pre and post-prostatectomy or hysterectomy, people with concurring chronic health conditions such as heart and/or respiratory conditions, diabetes and obesity.

What is incontinence?
The Continence Foundation of Australia describes incontinence as any accidental or involuntary loss of urine from the bladder (urinary incontinence) or bowel motion, faeces or wind from the bowel (faecal or bowel incontinence).

How do I know if I have a bladder or bowel control issue?
There are different types of incontinence which can range from a small leak with a cough or exercise, to complete loss of bladder and/or bowel control. Below are some symptoms that can be associated with incontinence:

• Increased urgency to empty bladder or bowel
• Leakage of urine or faeces before making it to the toilet, during exercise, when coughing, sneezing or laughing
• Feeling of not emptying bladder or bowels completely
• Frequent visits to the bathroom (especially during the night)

How can a physiotherapist help?
Pelvic floor training for both men and women is becoming more well-known in the community as a treatment for incontinence and has been shown to be very effective in reducing symptoms.

• Discussing lifestyle strategies (diet, hydration, stress management) that can play an important role in bladder and bowel function
• Implementation of good toileting habits with a bladder and/or bowel retraining program
• Utilisation of real-time ultrasound technology to assist in pelvic floor muscle strengthening and motor-control
• Developing an individualised exercise and physical activity program to allow you to stay active during your treatment and recovery

References: Continence Foundation of Australia