Incontinence Therapy

Urinary incontinence can interfere with your daily life and prevent you from enjoying the activities you love. This condition is uncomfortable and it can feel embarrassing to talk about. The good news is that treatments are available to help manage or correct urinary incontinence so you can get back to your routine with more confidence.

At DMC Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan, our team of specialty trained pelvic floor physical therapists understand that living with bladder control problems can affect your quality of life. Together we’ll create a treatment plan that supports your needs, goals and helps you live life to the fullest.

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What Is Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence happens when you are unable to control your bladder. It is not a disease itself but rather a symptom of another issue. These issues include certain lifestyle habits, physical disorders or underlying medical conditions.

There are different types of urinary incontinence:

• Stress Incontinence – Leakage occurs when the bladder is under pressure, such as when lifting something heavy, laughing or sneezing.
• Urge Incontinence – A sudden, strong urge to urinate followed by an unintentional loss of urine.
• Overflow Incontinence – The bladder does not empty completely, causing frequent or continuous dribbling of urine.
• Functional Incontinence – A physical or mental condition prevents you from getting to the bathroom quickly.
• Mixed Incontinence – When more than one type of incontinence is present.

In general, the most common signs and symptoms of urinary incontinence can include:

• Bladder leakage during everyday activities, such as lifting, bending, coughing or exercising
• Being unable to hold in urine after feeling a sudden, strong urge to urinate
• Leaking urine without knowing it
• Being unable to reach a toilet in time
• Wetting your bed during sleep
• Leaking during sexual activity

Bladder leakage problems can affect the quality of life and lead to other health complications. If you have symptoms, seek professional care for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Why Seek Therapy for Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is common, especially among older adults, but it is not a normal part of aging. Many causes of incontinence are reversible and all cases can be managed to some degree. Seeking therapy can help you understand your condition and take steps toward improving bladder control.

Education plays a vital role in managing urinary incontinence. Learning about risk factors such as obesity, chronic cough and pelvic floor weakness can empower you to make changes like maintaining a healthy weight and doing regular pelvic floor exercises. Understanding the types and causes of incontinence, managing fluid intake and recognizing symptoms early are also key to improving your bladder health.

Open communication with your healthcare team is encouraged. Talking about your symptoms can help reduce stigma and ensure you get the necessary care. By learning about the different treatment options available, from conservative therapies to medications and surgical procedures, you can take proactive steps to manage urinary incontinence and improve your quality of life.

Types of Incontinence Therapy

DMC Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan’s specialty trained physical therapist in pelvic floor rehab can play an essential role in managing urinary incontinence. Our pelvic floor trained physical therapists will teach you how to identify and engage your pelvic floor muscles. They will then design an exercise program tailored to your specific condition to improve muscle function and help you better control your bladder.

Your treatment plan may include:

• Pelvic floor exercises – Also known as Kegel exercises, these involve squeezing the sphincter muscles as if you are trying to stop the flow of urine. Both contracting and fully releasing these muscles are essential parts of training.
• Exercises to improve muscle strength – Your physical therapist will guide you through exercises to increase awareness, stretch and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Stronger pelvic floor muscles can help support proper bladder function.
• Biofeedback – Depending on your symptoms, your physical therapist may recommend biofeedback, which involves using an internal sensor that measures pelvic floor muscle activity. When you squeeze your muscles, the pressure on the sensor appears on a computer screen, helping you learn how to contract the right muscles effectively.
• Electrical stimulation – Gentle electrical stimulation may help you become more aware of your muscle function and improve control.
• Real-time ultrasound – Your physical therapist may use an ultrasound device to assess how your pelvic floor and abdominal muscles work together, which can help increase your awareness and ensure proper coordination of these muscle groups.

Find a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist Near You

Pelvic floor physical therapy is a specialty area within physical therapy focusing on the rehabilitation of muscles in the pelvic floor after injury or dysfunction. Physical therapy for incontinence can help improve pelvic floor strength and function, support better bladder control and enhance quality of life.

If you think you could benefit from pelvic floor therapy, speak with your doctor about obtaining a prescription. Pelvic floor therapy is available at our Detroit, Sterling Heights, Novi, Commerce Twp,. and Oak Park locations. To request a therapy appointment, please fill out the online form below.