Many times during an initial evaluation, a patient has told me they do Kegels every day, but still leak urine. How frustrating that something so simple as contracting your pelvic floor every day wouldn’t be able to “fix” a very sensitive concern.
When we understand the many causes for bladder leakage, we can use a variety of solutions. Sometimes it is just as simple as doing Kegels; however, there is oftentimes more going on that is causing the leakage. For instance, there might be difficulties with maintaining appropriate pressures in your abdomen. Think of your core as a tube of toothpaste that is filled with the cap taken off. How do you make sure to keep the toothpaste inside?
During evaluations, we also investigate:
Bathroom behavior: Do you do “just in case” pees? Do you strain when you poop?
Tissue quality: What does the skin and surrounding areas look like “down there”?
Pelvic floor tension: Does your pelvic floor feel like tight neck muscles?
Body movement and awareness: How does your body function throughout the day?
If you sense there might be more to the story for your bladder leakage than Kegel exercises, reach out to us to set up a consultation.
Brought to you by:
Dr. Chrissy Clark, PT, DPT, WCS, CFL-2
Call or text: 541-357-3839
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