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Becky Aston Physiotherapist

1 in 5 of the population will suffer with pelvic floor dysfunction at some point in their life. It is an umbrella term for a group of symptoms involving the bladder, uterus, the prostate in men and the bowels. Contrary to popular belief, Men, Women and Children will suffer with symptoms and its not confined to the ageing population

 

Symptoms range from bladder and bowel incontinence, frequency and urgency, disordered defecation which includes both constipation and difficulty emptying, pelvic organ prolapse and pelvic pain.

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Conditions Explained

Stress Urinary Incontinence

Stress urinary incontinence describes the loss of urine during exercise, coughing, sneezing, laughing and any other movements that put pressure on the bladder. There are many factors which contribute to this problem, including childbirth, weak pelvic floor muscles, high impact exercise, constipation and obesity. The good news is that treatment works!

Treatment includes a thorough assessment to identify the problems and the contributing factors. Then a supervised programme of pelvic floor exercises and other physiotherapeutic techniques which will lead you to success.

Over Active Bladder Syndrome

Over active bladder syndrome (OAB) describes a group of symptoms, you may suffer with one or all of them. They include:-

  • Uncontrollable urgency to reach the toilet

  • Leakage of urine if you dont reach the toilet in time

  • Frequency to go to the toilet (usually more than 8 in 24 hours)

  • Getting up at night more than 1-2 times to urinate

 

Treatment includes a thorough assessment of your bladder function including, fluid in and out put as well as other physiotherapeutic techniques to make your bladder behave better.

Bowel Incontinence

Bowel incontinence is less common than bladder problems but often more distressing. It can include a sudden uncontrollable urge to empty your bowels, an inability to hold onto a bowel movement, leakage of small amounts of faeces after you thought you had emptied and difficulty or the inability to hold onto wind.

 

Treatment involves pelvic floor exercises, concentrating on the muscles around the back passage as well as strategies to improve bowel function.

Pelvic Pain

Pelvic Pain is usually a debilitating condition which has lasted for more than 6 months. It describes pain in the pelvic floor, lower abdominal, pelvic region including urethral, bladder and anal pain.

The pelvic floor muscle structures can hold negative tension and become over active. They often benefit from being released using manual techniques and breathing exercises to reduce the tension held with in the muscles. Terms linked to this condition include vulvar vestibulitis, vaginal, labial, and clitoral pain, vaginismus, anismus, vulvodynia, bladder pain syndrome, cystitis and proctodynia. All of these conditions may be helped by a Womens Health Physiotherapist.

 

 

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