Your bladder health may not be something you think of often, but it is a vital component of your overall well being. Your pelvic floor muscles work to support your bladder and its functions. Weakness or tightness in your pelvic floor can impact your bladder. Many of the symptoms that occur with your bladder can be hard to talk about or you may feel embarrassed. There are also many common conditions that people accept as normal, like leaking or having to sprint to the bathroom after having a baby. Bladder health issues can have a big impact on your daily life: you might feel the need to restrict your fluid before going to the playground with your kids or feeling like the weakest link on the road trip. You may find yourself simply living with conditions that can actually be healed to help you regain control and improve your quality of life.
Common Bladder Dysfunctions
Urinary incontinence occurs when there is an involuntary leakage of urine. There are two different types of this condition and you may experience a combination of both.Â
Stress incontinence primarily occurs during activities, like running or jumping, that put downward pressure on your bladder. It can also happen when you sneeze or cough.Â
Urinary urgency and frequency is characterized by a sudden, intense urge to urinate that results in leaking before you make it to the bathroom, or the feeling you need to urinate more often than usual.
Urinary retention is when you can’t fully empty your bladder. Not only is this uncomfortable, but it can lead to an increase in urinary tract infections (UTIs).
Bladder pain syndrome, also known as Interstitial Cystitis, is chronic pelvic pain and discomfort in the bladder area. You may also experience urinary urgency and frequency.
What Causes These Bladder Issues?
Bladder issues can stem from a variety of causes. One of the most common causes of bladder health issues is pelvic floor muscle imbalances. If your muscles are weak or tight, then they can’t properly do their job of supporting your bladder functions.
The hormonal shifts that come with pregnancy, menopause, and aging can negatively impact your pelvic floor, reducing elasticity and strength. This can lead to increased sensitivity, leaking, or frequency. Childbirth can may also cause weakened--or tightened--pelvic floor muscles.Â
Lifestyle factors can place strain on your pelvic floor. Longstanding stress or even sitting for long periods of time can negatively affect your pelvic floor muscles. What you drink can potentially irritate your bladder. Certain behaviors, like peeing just in case, can
train your bladder to signal the need to go more often.Â
All of these factors can impact your pelvic floor strength and coordination, making bladder control challenging.
Take Control of Your Bladder Health
Bladder health issues are treatable and not something that you have to live with. Performing an assessment to determine the true cause of your condition will allow your therapist to create a treatment plan specific to your needs. Pelvic floor physical therapy provides non-invasive treatments to target the muscles that help with bladder control.Â
Pelvic floor exercises to help with strength, flexibility, and coordination. Kegels are great, but not always the answer. If your muscles are tight, performing strengthening exercises will only make the problem worse.
Manual therapy to help relieve muscle tension and pain in the pelvic area. This may also include teaching relaxation techniques and exercises.
Bladder retraining techniques to help your bladder hold more urine and reduce urgencies. This involves gradually increasing the time between bathroom trips and teaching the bladder to function normally again.
Lifestyle adjustments to address factors like hydration, diet, and posture that may be contributing to your bladder health issues. Your therapist can help you identify and reduce or alter the areas that are causing your bladder to not function normally.
Pelvic floor therapy will find the root cause of your bladder dysfunction and help you regain control of your bladder by providing safe and effective methods to allow you to get back to enjoying life without worry or embarrassment.
If you have pelvic health concerns and would like to see how our therapists at
Embrace can help, follow the link to schedule your free discovery call.
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