Do a few drops of urine leak out when you cough or laugh, or does your poop start to make its way out unexpectedly?
It shouldn’t be this way!
There are multiple contributing factors that lead to incontinence, one main factor is the integrity of your pelvic floor muscles!
Pelvic Floor Muscles in Peeing/Pooping
Your pelvic floor muscles lie together in a hammock-like structure at the base of your body. This hammock supports the bladder, rectum, and in women, the uterus. The vagina, the neck and urethra of your bladder and the anal canal of your rectum pierces through the pelvic floor, hence each of these tube-like structures are enclosed by the pelvic floor muscles.
Often, if the pelvic floor muscles are weak, it is unable to support the sphincters that control the closing/opening of the urethra or the anal canal, hence when the pressure upon the bladder or rectum increases, the sphincters are unable to hold the contents, and this causes leaking.
Another aspect is that pelvic floor muscles can be tight, compressing upwards into the abdominal cavity, increasing the abdominal pressure. The pressure extends to the sphincters, increasing chances of leaking in sudden high pressure moments, such as coughing and sneezing.
Role of Physiotherapy
Pee and poo incontinence is not normal and it can be helped!
Pelvic floor physiotherapists focuses on:
1) Breathing Technique: How we breathe affects our abdominal pressure and it’s important to know how to regulate our breathing rhythm along with using the right muscles.
2) Pelvic Floor Tightness: Stretching and releasing the pelvic floor muscles reduces tension and pressure in the abdominal cavity, as well as the structures related to the pelvic floor muscles.
3) Pelvic Floor Strengthening: Exercises, such as Kegel exercises, will greatly improve the control of the pelvic floor muscles.
What to do Next
If you’re experiencing pee and/or poo leakage, best find a pelvic floor physiotherapist to help you!
Here at Relive Rehab & Physio, we have specially trained pelvic floor physiotherapists, who offer private and professional services catered to women’s urinary & faecal incontinence. Contact us to know more!
