Incontinence

INCONTINENCE
Incontinence is the inability to control bodily functions resulting in the loss of urine or feces.

1. Stress Urinary Incontinence is an involuntary loss of urine with physical exertion (while coughing, sneezing, lifting, positional changes etc.) This occurs due to a weak urethral sphincter mechanism during a rise in intra-abdominal pressure.
2. Urge Urinary Incontinence is an involuntary loss of urine accompanied or preceded by a strong urge to urinate. The bladder is unstable or overactive.
   Mixed Urinary Incontinence is the combination of both stress and urge symptoms.
3. Overflow Incontinence is a loss of urine associated with an over distension of the bladder.  Some symptoms include reduced urine stream, difficulty initiating a stream, and tenderness above the pubic region.
4. Fecal Incontinence or Accidental Bowel Leakage is an involuntary loss of solid or liquid stool or gas from the anus. Causes of fecal incontinence can be related to sphincter weakness, neurological and/or musculoskeletal dysfunction or damage, radiation, and cognitive impairment.
5. Light Bladder Leakage is a mild form of incontinence, that results in little loss of urine. This can still be conservatively managed with pelvic floor physical therapy in most instances.
6. Giggle Incontinence is stress urinary incontinence in children. In children, this may be due to chronic constipation, holding too long, or a combination of other factors. As with adults, it can have disasterous consequences when the leakage occurs in social settings.
7. Nocturnal Enuresis is the medical term for night-time bedwetting. It is the involuntary loss of urine at night when the child is at a reasonable age to stay dry through the night. Children typically achieve dryness through the night by age 6.

Physical therapy treatments are important to restore the normal bladder and bowel functions through strengthening, use of behavioral modification strategies, correction of faulty patterns and habits and use of biofeedback and electrical stimulation as appropriate to enhance pelvic floor rehabilitation. At Fusion Wellness & Physical Therapy, we are proud to offer successful, non-invasive therapies to treat men, women and children with incontinence and light bladder leakage. You can find out more about our female-based services on our sister website, Femina PT (located inside Fusion Wellness PT).