Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation for Urinary Incontinence
This month is Bladder Awareness Month!
Various studies have found that the prevalence of urinary incontinence ranges from 5-70% depending on the age and gender. The majority of studies report an average of 25-45% prevalence. Women are affected more than men with 53% of women reporting urinary incontinence. Of these women, 30% reported moderate to severe urinary incontinence and 24% reported it impacted their daily life.
The Cost of Urinary Incontinence
Urinary incontinence can be a challenging condition, especially when it impacts your daily life. both psychologically and physically. This condition is a multi-billion dollar industry ($11.35 billion in 2022) with many treatment options available ranging from invasive to non-invasive, depending on age, gender, severity and past medical history factors.
What is Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation?
Pelvic floor rehabilitation offers a range of benefits that can help restore confidence and improve quality of life. This specialized form of therapy focuses on improving muscle balance within the pelvic floor and surrounding muscles of the pelvis, abdomen and thighs. It is a non-invasive treatment that works to improve the function of the pelvic floor reducing both the frequency and severity of leakage.
Pelvic Health Physical Therapy Treatment
Studies have shown that targeted exercises, such as Kegel exercises, can significantly enhance muscle strength, leading to better bladder control. In addition to physical strengthening, pelvic floor rehabilitation often incorporates manual therapy as well as behavioral strategies, such as bladder training and scheduled toileting. These methods help patients develop a better understanding of their body’s signals, leading to improved management of incontinence. Pelvic health physical therapists often also use biofeedback like Real-Time Ultrasound to help clients understand how their pelvic floor is functioning in real time which can significantly improve pelvic muscle control.
Unlike surgical options, which carry risks and require recovery time, pelvic floor rehab can often be done in the comfort of your home or through guided sessions with a physical therapist. Patients report high satisfaction rates, as they feel empowered to take control of their symptoms.
Here To Help
Call us to schedule an evaluation. In the state of New York no prescription is needed to see a physical therapist. We offer pelvic health physical therapy sessions for up to one hour in private treatment rooms, not a booth.
