Pelvic-Floor PT Treats Stress Urinary Incontinence

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is underreported and underdiagnosed. Too often, I meet people with SUI who either stop an activity that makes them leak, or wear incontinence pads, due to their belief that there is not much that can be done.

SUI is the involuntary loss of urine upon physical exertion or high-impact activities that increase abdominal pressure. Climbing stairs, getting out of a chair or even reaching for a pencil can create enough stress to cause a leak.

While aging and number of pregnancies (not just vaginal births) increase the likelihood of women experiencing SUI, it is also very common in elite athletes — runners, gymnasts, volleyball players, dancers — and it can also affect men after prostate surgery.

The good news is there is so much that can be done to treat SUI. Pelvic-floor physical therapy can help reduce or even cure stress incontinence through improving the strength and coordination of the pelvic-floor muscles. It can also retrain the bladder for better control and gradually increase the time between bathroom visits. We offer pelvic PT care for patients with and without insurance through the RFU Health Clinics and our Interprofessional Community Clinic.