16 ketteringhealth.org Sometimes when I’m in a workout class, I accidentally pee— or worse yet, I suddenly need to go and can’t make it to the bathroom on time. Why is this happening, and what can I do about it? Sound familiar? The concern we’re talking about is urinary incontinence, or the loss of bladder control. Stress urinary incontinence occurs when there’s increased pressure on the pelvic floor, leading to leaks. You may have urinary leaks when you cough, sneeze, jump, or exercise. Urge urinary incontinence occurs when you’re unable to control a urinary urge. Both are happening in the scenario above, so we call this mixed urinary incontinence. If you’re having bladder control problems, it’s likely that you’re dealing with pelvic floor dysfunction. Common symptoms The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that start at your pubic bone and stretch back to your SEEK RELIEF Visit ketteringhealth.org/pelviccontrol to learn more about pelvic floor therapy with Kettering Health. tailbone. They have many functions, including contracting so that you don’t urinate or have a bowel movement at the wrong time. Pelvic floor dysfunction is the inability to correctly contract, relax, stretch, or coordinate your pelvic floor muscles. Besides trouble with bladder control, pelvic floor dysfunction can lead to • A weak or slow urine stream • Difficulty emptying your bladder • Frequent urination • Pain during sex • Pelvic organ prolapse (a feeling of pressure or out-of-place tampon) Speak up and get help Pelvic floor dysfunction affects men, too. The anatomy of the pelvic floor muscles doesn’t vary that much between males and females. Men may also deal with urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and pelvic pain. Whether you’re male or female, no one should feel embarrassed to seek treatment for pelvic floor health. At Kettering Health, we offer pelvic floor therapy, which is a specialized type of physical therapy designed to help you use your pelvic floor muscles and your entire core properly. You might need to strengthen your pelvic floor, or you might need to learn to relax your pelvic floor. Most people see significant improvement in their symptoms after only three months. Our goal is to arm you with the knowledge that you need to improve and maintain your pelvic health on your own. As therapists, we are the guides to teach you what to do—you are the one healing your own body. Fixing your floor Understanding pelvic floor dysfunction EMBARRASSED TO ASK? Alicia Baker, PT, DPT, CLT, is a pelvic floor therapist with Kettering Health.
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