Pelvic floor SIG
Diseases
Urinary Incontinence
Incontinence : what is it?
Urinary or anal incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine or stool.
These involuntary losses are not a normal symptom of aging. It is a common phenomenon that affects both men and women.
However, women are somewhat more susceptible, especially after pregnancy, a hysterectomy, or during hormonal changes at menopause. These circumstances weaken the pelvic floor muscles.
In men, incontinence can occur due to a prostate problem (e.g., increased volume) or prostate surgery.
Incontinence is often an embarrassing problem that can lead to social isolation. This situation is unfortunate as various therapeutic options exist (general measures, medications, physical therapy, surgery). It is first and foremost important to talk to your doctor about the problem, who will do everything possible to help you.
There are several types:
Urine loss occurs due to increased intra-abdominal pressure, for example when coughing, laughing, sneezing, or during physical exertion. It is mainly caused by weakness in the pelvic floor muscles.
This type of urine loss is characterized by a sudden and uncontrollable urge to urinate. This happens because the bladder muscle contracts uncontrollably, and often the person does not have time to reach the toilet.
Many people suffer from both stress incontinence and urge incontinence.
This means there is hyperactivity of the bladder muscle of neurological origin or reflex incontinence.
The symptoms are similar to urge incontinence, but the person does not feel the need to urinate.
This is caused by an obstruction below the bladder (increased prostate volume, prostatic adenoma, urethral stenosis).
In this case, urine loss does not occur through the urethra, but through other body openings, such as the skin, intestines, or vagina.
Treatment of incontinence
In terms of treatment of incontinence, let's return to physiotherapy.
The physiotherapist must first clearly understand the patient's problem. It is important to explain how the bladder works. Often, the people concerned have adopted very bad habits that only worsen incontinence. The rehabilitation of the pelvic floor muscles is crucial. The physiotherapist assesses the strength of these muscles located in the pelvis. Indeed, the contraction of the pelvic floor muscles allows us to exercise conscious control over urination. These specific contractions are recorded by vaginal or anal probe and allow working on the strength and endurance of the pelvic floor muscles. The patient can visualize the contractions through a screen. It is important to learn to contract the pelvic floor correctly and to continue practicing the exercises at home.
On the other hand, the physiotherapist may resort to specific protocols of electrical stimulations in order to remuscle a very weak pelvic floor or to treat urgency incontinence.
Pelvic floor rehabilitation has proven itself in the prevention and treatment of incontinence, but the success of the treatment depends on the participation and motivation of the patient.
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