Stress Incontinence in Women a brief explanation
Stress incontinence is the most common form of
incontinence. Exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles are the usual
treatment. A treatment option in some cases is surgery to 'tighten' or support
the bladder outlet.
Understanding urine and the bladder
The
kidneys make urine all the time. A trickle of urine is constantly passing to the
bladder down the ureters (the tubes from the kidneys to the bladder). You make
different amounts of urine depending on how much you drink, eat and sweat.
The bladder is made of muscle and stores the
urine. It expands like a balloon as it fills with urine. The outlet for urine
(the urethra) is normally kept closed. This is helped by the muscles beneath the
bladder that sweep around the urethra (the pelvic floor muscles). When a certain
amount of urine is in the bladder, you become aware that the bladder is getting
full. When you go to the toilet to pass urine, the bladder muscle contracts
(squeezes), and the urethra and pelvic floor muscles relax.
Complex nerve messages are sent between the
brain, the bladder, and the pelvic floor muscles. These make you aware of how
full your bladder is and tell the right muscles to contract, or relax, at the
right time.
What is stress incontinence?
Stress incontinence is when urine leaks when
there is a sudden extra pressure ('stress') on the bladder. Urine leaks because
your pelvic floor muscles and urethra cannot withstand the extra pressure. (The
diagram below shows how the pelvic floor muscles support the bladder and nearby
structures.) The incontinence develops because the pelvic floor muscles are
weakened. Small amounts of urine may leak, but sometimes it may be quite a lot
and cause embarrassment.
Urine tends to leak most when you cough, laugh,
or when you exercise (like jump or run). In these situations there is sudden
extra pressure within the abdomen and on the bladder.
How common is stress incontinence?
Stress incontinence is the most common form of
urinary incontinence. It is estimated that about 3 million people in the UK are
regularly incontinent. Overall this is about 4 in 100 adults, and well over half
of these are due to stress incontinence. However, stress incontinence becomes
more common in older women and as many as 1 in 5 women over the age of 40 have
some degree of stress incontinence.
(The second most common type of incontinence is
urge incontinence. Very briefly, urge incontinence is when you get an urgent
desire to pass urine. Sometimes urine leaks before you have time to get to the
toilet. Pelvic floor exercise and training may help alleviate the symptoms of
urge incontinence. Some people have both stress incontinence and urge
incontinence.)
What causes stress incontinence?
The common reason for the pelvic floor muscles to
become weakened is childbirth. Stress incontinence is common in women who have
had several children. It is also more common with increasing age as the muscles
become weaker, and in women who are obese.
What are the treatments for stress incontinence?
Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles is the
usual first treatment. About 6 in 10 cases can be cured or much improved with
this treatment. Surgery may be advised if the problem continues.
Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles
The
pelvic floor muscles are a group of muscles that wrap around the underside of
the bladder and rectum (see diagram). Exercises to strengthen these muscles are
the usual first treatment. This can be achieved by using a device called the
Pelvexiser (featured below) which helps you exercise your pelvic floor muscles.
Alternatively you can use an electrical muscle stimulator (featured below) which
helps to strengthen your muscles.
Keep your pelvic floor
muscle in shape. The best way to do this is to exercise with the only patented
pelvic floor training device with biofeedback, adjustable resistance settings
which is medically tested.
The Pelvexiser was developed by a female physician - Dr. Ilse Michl - for women.
The Pelvexiser provides the most effective urinary incontinence therapy
currently on the market
No need for electrical stimulation
No wires or cables
You can see and feel the improvement day to day
As a bonus your sexual responsiveness is enhanced
Unique Features
Flexible sensor:
The Pelvexiser is the only affordable pelvic floor trainer with a smooth sensor
which can be adjusted via a manual pump to fit individual needs of each woman.
Isolates the pelvic floor:
The sensor isolates the correct muscles within the pelvic floor and is made of
soft solid silicone. This guarantees comfortable and safe training.
Clinically tested:
The sensor was clinically tested by Prof. Enzelsberger and provides immediate
biofeedback.
Adjustable resistance levels
The manual pump allows progressive muscle build-up by increasing the resistance
in the sensor. The Pelvexiser is small and light.
Small, user friendly device:
The small size and the minimal weight enables women to have the device with them
always and everywhere.
Low price:
The extremely attractive price enables effective pelvic floor training for all
women without having to spend significant amounts of money.
DONNA® Ovulation & Fertility Tester
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DONNA® Fertility Tester is a mini microscope made up of a small cylindrical body where a sample of saliva is applied.
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DONNA® is non-invasive, has no side effects, no chemicals, very discrete and is easy to use. DONNA® is also proven to be the most accurate form of ovulation predictors. Lifestyle pattern changes do not affect the results of the DONNA®. If, for example, your sleep cycle or stress level is altered, this will have no affect on the DONNA’s accuracy.
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Symphysis Pubis
Dysfunction (SPD) was mentioned by Hippocrates, and described definitively in
medical literature by Snelling in 1870: -
“The affection appears to consist of a relaxation of the pelvic articulations, becoming apparent suddenly after parturition, or gradually during pregnancy; and permitting of a degree of mobility of the pelvic bones which effectually hinders locomotion, and gives rise to the most peculiar, distressing and alarming sensations”.
Contrary to documented evidence SPD is not uncommon, and to date is under recognised. This painful disability frequently results in the woman experiencing great difficulty caring for her family, social isolation, depression and relationship difficulties.
Aetiology
Although in every
pregnancy there is a natural increase in the width of the symphysis pubis due to
laxity of the connective tissue under hormonal influence, severe dysfunction and
pain commonly occur irrespective of clinical evidence of joint disruption.
Recognition and management of symptoms may reduce the long-term morbidity
experienced by some women.
Women who are, or
have been, childbearers.
Onset:
Distribution of pain:
Pubis, groin, medial aspect of thighs – unilateral/bilateral frequently accompanied by low back, sacroiliac and supra-pubic pain.
Signs and Symptoms:
Mild-severe pain:
exacerbated by walking and all weight bearing activities particularly those
which include lifting one leg, e.g. stairs, or parting the legs, also by
movement in bed.
Symphysial
“clicking” or grinding may be audible, and can be felt by the woman,
difficulty in walking – a “waddling” gait is typical.
Range of hip movements will be limited by pain – particularly abduction.
Inability to stand on one leg.
Exquisite pain may be elicited on palpation of the symphysis pubis – use extreme caution!
NB: SPD should
not be confused with urinary tract infection, or dismissed as “the aches and
pains of pregnancy”.
Support and relief can be achieved by wearing the Serola Sacroiliac Belt,
| The Digi-Stim is ideal for the re-education of weak vaginal muscles, reducing muscle spasm, increasing range of motion, stimulating circulation. Now comes with digital display and padded carry case. Includes batteries, leads and electrodes. (Vaginal electrodes come free) Ideal for retraining muscles after childbirth or to cure incontinence. |
Femelex is a sophisticated ergonomically shaped intra-vaginal probe for use with the EMS 9000D muscle stim unit.
Femelex offers lightness and comfort with optimum contact efficacy. Femelex provides maximum contact with inner body surfaces without a need for precision positioning. Easy to insert and remove. Comfortable during use.
Product Code: TRO 91
Product Code: TRO 96
Aran Sheehan Copyright ©2001
Physio Needs Ltd. 8 - 10 Bath Street, Irishtown, Dublin 4, Ireland. Tel / Fax: +353.1.6602 808