Stress Incontinence, Exercise, and Physio Management – Looking Beyond Kegels
February 3, 2025
Stress Incontinence, Exercise, and Physio Management – Looking Beyond Kegels
Dysfunction related to the pelvic floor can lead to pain, stress incontinence, among other conditions such as prolapse, affecting daily activities, exercise participation and ultimately quality of life. Leaking (stress incontinence) during exercise (lifting, running, jumping) or even when sneezing or with day-to-day activities, is common, but shouldn’t be considered as ‘normal’. This can happen particularly with higher impact exercise and is often disregarded and thought of as something that just happens, and women have to ‘get on with’.
Stress incontinence among athletes has been found to be more common, but is this because of a ‘weak pelvic floor’ or do we need to be thinking of the system as a whole, incorporating aspects such as breathing mechanics, rib cage function, posture, lifting technique, stance, pressure management and force absorption?
The pelvic floor is not isolated. It works in conjunction with so many other structures. If we ignore these other structures, we ignore the potential for the pelvic floor dysfunction to fully resolve and to address the root cause of the problem. The pelvic floor is important for controlling and generating intra-abdominal pressure, along with other abdominal muscles, and plays a role in the management of stress incontinence and supporting internal organs. Conditions associated with pelvic floor dysfunction are not just caused by pelvic floor weakness or tightness – this is often a symptom of a problem elsewhere, such as poor pressure management. By treating the pelvic floor solely with isolated Kegel exercises, which are commonly prescribed for a wide range of women’s health conditions, we are only treating one part of the problem, and creating a short term ‘fix’ for something that requires a more thorough and holistic approach.
Women’s health physiotherapy can help to identify the root cause by assessing functional movement patterns, joint mobility, breathing and rib cage mechanics. Pressure management issues from the rib cage and breathing muscles, and any force absorption issues from the foot, knee, and hip, can be addressed to help manage pelvic floor dysfunction and pain.
Women’s health physiotherapy is suitable for anyone who has a pelvic floor related concern, pelvic or back pain. This includes pregnancy related concerns throughout pregnancy and beyond, and pelvic floor dysfunction and/or pain relating to childbirth.
Managing the pelvic floor without solely focusing on Kegel exercises means a much more fun, functional, and realistic rehab plan focused on getting to the root cause of the problem, and enabling the pelvic floor to function as it should.
If you would like to find out more on how Emma, our Senior Physiotherapist with a special interest in Women’s Health Physiotherapy, could help you, give us call to book in a free triage call on 0191 285 8701 or email us at info@physiotherapymatters.co.uk.