Continence & Pelvic Floor Program

You may be surprised to learn that urinary incontinence is quite common. In fact, an estimated 13 million adults experience accidental urine leakage, and spend nearly $10 billion a year trying to control it. It's important to know that urinary incontinence is not an inevitable symptom of aging. From athletes to new mothers, it affects men and women of all ages and lifestyles. But it's not anything to be embarrassed about. And it's not something you have to live with. In fact, with proper medical care, urinary incontinence can be treated and, in most cases, cured.

Could this be you?

• Do you accidentally leak urine during exercise?
• Do you leak urine when you cough, laugh, sneeze or bend?
• Has urine leakage or fear of an accident caused you to limit your social activities?
• Do you wear absorbent pads to protect from urine leakage?

If you answered "yes" to any of the above questions, you may be experiencing urinary incontinence. Take control of your life by seeking medical treatment today.

Urinary Incontinence

Urinary Incontinence is a condition that involves the involuntary loss of urine. The risk factors associated with urinary incontinence include smoking, high impact physical activity, pregnancy, diabetes, stroke, menopause, pelvic muscle weakness, immobility due to trauma or chronic degenerative disease, surgery, diminished cognitive skills and prescription or over-the-counter medications. The Continence and Pelvic Floor Rehab program offers treatment in the following areas of incontinence:

• Stress Incontinence: The most common form of incontinence, involving accidental urine leakage during normal activity. Stress incontinence occurs when the urethral sphincter (the valve that controls urinary flow) or the surrounding pelvis muscles have been weakened by gravity, injury, childbirth, prostate surgery or other event.
• Urge Incontinence: A disorder characterized by an overwhelming urge to urinate even through the bladder may contain only a small amount of urine. Patients with urge incontinence often cannot get to the bathroom in time.
• Overflow Incontinence:  A condition that involves frequent or constant dribbling as well as urgent and frequent urination. Overflow incontinence is often caused by a blockage such as an enlarged prostate or growth that inhibits the bladder from emptying completely.

Other Related Conditions

The Continence and Pelvic Floor Rehab Program also provides treatment for the following conditions:

• Interstitial Cystitis: Chronic pelvic pain associated with urinary frequency, tenderness and pain, usually relieved by emptying the bladder.
• Fecal Incontinence:  A condition in which muscles surrounding the pelvic floor, and rectum become weakened, causing loss of control. Fecal incontinence may occur in women after childbirth, the elderly, after some surgeries or in patients with fecal impaction.
• Chronic Constipation: A disorder that prevents patients from performing normal bowel movements for prolonged periods of time without the assistance of medication or enemas.
• Pelvic Pain:  A condition typically experienced by women with disorders such as endometriosis or dysmenorrhea and post-surgical scarring.
• Vulvodynia: Intense pain, burning or itching of the vulvar area.
• Enuresis: Nighttime bed wetting.

We Can Help

The Continence and Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation Program, at our Sterling Park Drive location, provides professional medical consultation in a comfortable, caring environment. We offer the latest in breakthrough therapy managed by a team of doctors, nurses and physician assistant who are specialty trained in continence and pelvic dysfunction. We work closely with referring physicians to help patients conquer incontinence. To ensure high quality care, we follow the clinical Practice Guidelines for Urinary Incontinence developed by the Agency for Health Care and Research.

Treatment Options

• Pelvic Muscle Rehabilitation:  Special exercises, (known as Kegel exercises) are used to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic Muscle Rehabilitation training also helps patients isolate and control pelvic muscles. Electrical stimulation may be used to strengthen weak pelvic muscles.
• Behavior Modification: Scheduled voiding and bladder re-training allows patients to gradually increase the time between trips to the bathroom.
• Urinary Control Products: There are several urinary incontinence treatments available by physician prescription. We work with the referring physician to determine the best option for each individual patient.