#10 - Knotted Physio - bladder control
Welcome the the 10TH post of the Knotted Physio Blog! In today’s post, I am going to discuss what can be a nagging problem for many at some point in their lives. This subject my be a little sensitive and rarely talked about, but does get attention on TV commercials. In these commercials, we se active men or women exercising, shopping or some other fun activity and then the product is displayed. Yes, that’s right, I am talking about incontinence, or leakage of your bladder. Guys, this is not something to take lightly, it is not a normal process of aging. There are real solutions and you do not have to give up and suffer with wearing those unsightly pads. Not every situation is the same.
There are two main types of incontinence. There is urge incontinence and there is stress incontinence. This happens in both men and women. The first of these types is urge. A good definition of urge incontinence is when you have a sudden urge or need to go to the bathroom and you just don’t think you are able to hold it any longer. This type is associated commonly with a behavior, but not always. For example, you created a habit of driving home from work and the first thing you do when you get home is go straight to the bathroom. Over time, your body associates the unlocking of the door with going to the bathroom and you suddenly feel the urge to urinate.
The second type is stress incontinence. This occurs with a loss of bladder control with excessive force such as laughing, coughing or sneezing. You have all heard someone say to stop making them laugh because they are going to pee! That is what is happening here.
It is common for both of the types of incontinence to be present. Discussing this with your physical therapist or doctor can help you decide which type is causing your difficulties. There can be other underlying medical problems that can cause difficulties with bladder control as well; be sure to have an annual exam and discuss this with your doctor. Loss of bladder control is not normal and is not part of the aging process.
While there are medications that are available to help with this. Also, a physical therapist who works with the pelvic floor can be helpful. There are many strategies that can be used to train your bladder (which is a muscle).
Did you know that there are many foods and beverages that are bladder irritants? Most don’t want to hear this but caffeine is a biggie. If you find yourself with poor bladder control, you can eliminate any bladder irritants from your diet. The following are listed as bladder irritants on Johns Hopkins website: alcoholic beverages, apples and apple juices, cantaloupe, carbonated beverages, chili and spicy foods, chocolate, citrus fruit, coffee, cranberries, grapes, guava, milk and milk products, peaches, pineapple, plums, strawberries, sugar and artificial sweeteners, tea, tomatoes, vitamin B complex and vinegar.
So what are you supposed to do about these foods. You can track what foods and beverages that you consume and track your urinary output and frequency. This can systematically help you decide what could be irritating your bladder. Do what a dear friend calls “SCIENCE!” The only way to measure if you are having success or failure at something it to track it. In PT world, we call this a bladder diary.
This is just an introduction to pelvic health, but a simple one that many don’t like to talk about or even admit they have had this problem. But if you are having this problem, aren’t you glad to know that there is help out there and you don’t have to fork over money day in and day out on these wetness control products!
I hope you have found this information helpful, please share this with others you know. It could make all the difference in the world for them! If I can be of help, please reach out via email- it is confidential at jenny@salpt.com. If I can’t help you, I have numerous resources that can get your pointed in the right direction. As always, Go enjoy the outdoors!