Light Bladder Leakage – Is this “normal”?

• 1 in 8 women leak when they laugh.
• Around 50% of women will leak urine in the last few weeks of their pregnancy.

Do you find yourself with wet underwear during a workout session? (And the reason is not because of sweat!)

Do you case out the joint for where the loo’s are and go there first – just in case….?

This is not normal but its common!

As a physiotherapist with a special interest in women’s health I can assure you that whist it is common, it is not something that just comes as a result of ageing or having babies. It is not something that you have to “put up” with!

Did you know that urinary incontinence can be a symptom or related to another problem?

• nerve damage (during vaginal delivery)
• muscle weakness
• blockages or infections
• stroke
• diabetes
• multiple sclerosis

These are just some things that urinary incontinence may be related to.

I am happy to tell you that a lot can be done to improve and cure the embarrassing situations you can find yourself in with light bladder leakage.

You DON’T have to put up with it or avoid doing hobbies and activities you enjoy because you are worried about leakage.

Simple lifestyle changes like limiting caffeine and alcohol, dietary changes to lose weight and cut out food groups that you might be intolerant to can be implemented. (Always good to get a qualified health professionals’ guidance before you start cutting out foods though).

In my line of work, we do exercises specific to those muscles called your pelvic floor to improve this kind of leaking.

When the pelvic floor muscles are strong, they help prevent:

• the leaking of urine and faeces
• prolapse (stretching of the ligaments and tissues that support the pelvic organs).

The pelvic floor muscles also help with sexual sensation and function.

Pelvic floor exercises can help women who have;

• Stress incontinence (coughing, sneezing or being active)
• Urge incontinence (urgent need to pass urine)
• Pregnant women (reducing incidence of bladder or bowel problems after birth)
• Menopausal women (hormone changes can result in weaker pelvic floor)

Know that there is a team of healthcare professionals wanting and waiting for you to reach out to and make an improvement in your life.

So don’t wait. If this is you, don’t accept this as normal and reach out to someone who can help.

Lisa Scorgie

BSc(hon)phty
Allsports Physiotherapy Wavell Heights
07 3256 9678
lisa.scorgie@allsportsphysio.com.au
www.allsportsphysio.com.au