• Conditions Treated
• Elbow Conditions
  • Golfer’s Elbow
  • Little Leaguer’s Elbow
  • Tennis Elbow
• Foot and Ankle Dysfunctions
  • Ankle Fracture
  • Ankle Sprain
  • Calf Strain
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Shin Splint
• Hand Injuries
  • Boutonniere Deformity
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Cubital Tunnel Syndrome
  • DeQuervain's Tenosynovitis
  • Wrist Fracture
• Hip and Thigh Conditions
  • Hamstring Strain
  • Hip Replacement
• Knee Pain
  • ACL Injuries
  • ITB Syndrome
  • Knee Replacement
  • Patella Tendinitis
• Shoulder Injuries
  • Dislocated Shoulder
  • Frozen Shoulder
  • Rotator Cuff Tear
  • Shoulder Tendinitis
• Spinal Conditions
  • Back Pain
    • Preventing Back Pain
  • Cervical Strain
  • Headache
  • Herniated Disk
  • Neck Pain
    • Preventing Neck Pain
  • Sciatica
  • Spondylolisthesis
• Other Conditions
  • Arthritis
  • Chronic Pelvic Pain
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Osteoporosis
  • TMJ Dysfunction
  • Urinary Incontinence

Urinary Incontinence

Urinary incontinence, or the loss of bladder control, is a common problem that affects more than 26 million Americans at some point during their lives.¹ Contrary to popular belief, urinary incontinence is not necessarily a normal part of aging or an inevitable consequence of childbirth, and both men and women² can experience involuntary loss of urine at all stages of life.

Many people find urinary incontinence too embarrassing to discuss, even with their doctor or health care provider. In fact, it is estimated that up to 50 percent of people suffering from incontinence fail to ask for assistance.³ However, urinary incontinence does not have to negatively affect your quality of life. In many situations, with the right kind of treatment, you can dramatically improve your bladder control problem.

SSPT's approach to treating urinary incontinence

One of the most common and treatable causes of urinary incontinence is the weakening of the pelvic floor muscles. SSPT provides a noninvasive approach to the assessment and treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction that includes:

• Pelvic floor muscle function assessment
• Exercises to train the deep abdominal wall and pelvic floor muscles
• Bladder training
• Lifestyle modifications

Pelvic floor muscle training is now recommended as a first-line treatment for women experiencing stress incontinence.⁴ It is important that pelvic floor exercises are performed correctly. Because many women have trouble learning how to correctly engage their pelvic floor exercises without guidance, SSPT uses real-time ultrasound (RTUS) imaging—the same ultrasound used to image the unborn child—as a noninvasive tool to determine whether you are activating your pelvic floor and deep abdominal muscles. Through a technique known as biofeedback, RTUS imaging allows you to see your own muscle function in “black and white” images that help you learn to contract the correct muscles.

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¹ NKUDIC. Urologic Diseases Research Updates Winter 2008. NIH conference explores problem of fecal and urinary incontinence. Available at: kidney.niddk.nih.gov/about/Research_Updates/UrologicDiseasesWin08/3.htm.

² APTA. You can do something about urinary incontinence. Available at: www.apta.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&TEMPLATE=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=20405.

³Morrill M, Lukacz ES, Lawrence JM, Nager CW, Contreras R, Luber KM. Seeking healthcare for pelvic floor disorders: a population-based study. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2007;197:86.e1-86.e6.

⁴ Miller J, Sampselle C, Ashton-Miller J, Son Hong G, DeLancey J. Clarification and confirmation of the Knack maneuver: The effect of volitional pelvic floor muscle contraction to preempt expected stress incontinence. Int Urogynecol J (2008) 19:773–782.