You Do Not Have To Live With Urinary Incontinence!!

You do not have to live with urinary incontinence!!

Recently there seems to be an increase in advertisements for urinary incontinence. Companies are promoting their bladder leakage pads, or their bladder support systems. While these ads focus only on the symptoms we can help solve the problem itself!

Urinary leaking is very common— at least 50% of all women will experience urinary leaking during their lifetime, and 30% of women will leak urine during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. Urinary leaking is common in men as well, particularly post-prostatectomy.

Below are some misconceptions about urinary incontinence and how pelvic physical therapy can help:

  • If you’ve had kids, you have to live with urinary incontinence.
    • While urinary leaking is common with women during and following pregnancy, it’s not something you have to live with! Many changes occur during pregnancy and childbirth which make urinary leaking more common, such as weakened pelvic floor muscles or tears that occur during delivery. However, these muscles can be trained and strengthened with targeted exercise.
  • Urinary leaking is a part of normal aging.
    • Urinary leaking may be common in older adults, but it isn’t “normal.” Our body experiences many changes as we age, which may make leaking more frequent, but it isn’t inevitable or unchangeable.
  • Drinking less water will prevent you from leaking
    • The only sure thing reducing your water intake is going prevent is good hydration. Reducing your fluid intake makes your urine more concentrated, which can make urinary leaking worse, not better. Proper hydration is important for improving urinary leaking as well as total body health.
  • Surgery is the only treatment option.
    • Urinary incontinence can be caused by a variety of things, including weak or poorly coordinated pelvic floor muscles, bad habits, and more. Surgery isn’t appropriate for all kinds of leaking, and isn’t the only option in cases where it may be appropriate. Surgery is considered when other options, such as behavior changes and pelvic floor muscle training, have failed.
  • If you experience leaking, just do lots of Kegels to strengthen your muscles.
    • Not all leaking is from weak pelvic floor muscles. Muscles can be tight or poorly coordinated, so pure strengthening may not help the root issue. Additionally, many people don’t know how to properly perform a Kegel or pelvic floor squeeze, so they may not be using the muscles they’re trying to strengthen.
  • Urinary leaking only happens to women.
    • Many men have urinary leaking following prostate cancer treatment. Healthy habit changes and pelvic floor muscle training are effective in both men and women of all ages.

This is an informative article about urinary incontinence and how we can help!

Many women and men live with urinary incontinence on a daily basis. There is help to correct the problem! Visit our website to request an appointment or call our office at 252-215-5225 to schedule your evaluation today. Gain control of your incontinence, don’t let it control you!

Why Every New Mom Needs Physical Therapy

Pregnant and postpartum moms have lots of changes to their bodies! We can help you get stronger and stay strong after delivery. We can provide manual techniques, progressive exercises, and body mechanics training for all child care activities to protect your back and belly! More information in this article! Call to schedule your appointment today!

Help for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction during Exercise

We understand that talking about pelvic floor dysfunction can seem embarrassing for some women and, oftentimes, they brush off symptoms as something all women experience and “normal”. We can help get you back to an actual your actual “normal” at Avila Physical Therapy.

Kara Vormittag, M.D. is a sports medicine physician that estimates pelvic floor dysfunction affects more than 30 percent of women in the general population, and is likely higher—more than 40 percent—in female athletes. While many of us aren’t athletes, as women we should be exercising a minimum of three times a week to help keep our bodies healthy and strong and a leaky bladder can sometimes get in the way or completely eliminate our ability to do so.

“Anyone who is leaking or experiencing pelvic pain during exercise should be evaluated by a pelvic PT, because this is not normal.” says Allyson Daugherty, owner and physical therapist at Avila Physical Therapy in Greenville, NC. “No woman should be limited in her daily activities and it’s time we work together towards a solution.”

Kegels are often prescribed to women for strengthening of their pelvic floor, but a strong pelvic floor is not necessarily a functional one. All of these muscles are meant to work together rather than in isolation.

Diaphragmatic Breathing, sometimes referred to as abdomen or belly breathing, is the first key to learning how to relax those deep core muscles Engaging this group of muscles is equally as important as doing your kegels, especially to female athletes who enjoy running or fast walking.

If you are experiencing any bladder leakage or pelvic discomfort, please open that conversation with one of our therapists and let us help you find your new “normal”.

For more information on exercise and your deep core muscles, please read this informative article published recently in Runner’s World.

Do I Need a Referral or Prescription Before Making an Appointment?

No_RX_NeededThe short answer is NO!

North Carolina is considered a “direct access” state for a physical therapy evaluation. This means that our patients do not need a referral or a prescription from their doctor to receive a physical therapy evaluation at Avila Physical Therapy. Nearly all health insurance plans, including Affordable Care Act plans, offer physical therapy as a benefit, many with a low copay amount per visit. To provide you with the lowest out-of-pocket expense, we always check insurance benefits prior to our patients’ visit. Our office manager can help with any questions.

This also applies to patients who wish to receive post-mastectomy products from our office. We handle all necessary paperwork for this, including a prescription for your new products. After you call to schedule your fitting, one of our certified practitioners will assist you in finding the right fit that will suit your needs. We can fit you for both mastectomy bras and breast prosthesis that will be both comfortable and stylish. Typically, we are able to send you home with your new products on the same day, so be sure to reach out and let us help you feel beautiful and confident again.

Please call us at 252-215-5225 if you would like to schedule an appointment. Our staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have about your care. Avila Physical Therapy strives to make each patient experience both easy and enjoyable. Your comfort is our number one priority. If there is anything we can do to improve your visit or make you feel more at ease, please let us know.