Urinary Incontinence Treatment in Des Moines & Iowa City
Take Control Over Bladder Leaks With Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy at Breathe.
Don’t let a leaky bladder keep you from doing what you enjoy! The physical therapists at Breathe. will help you strengthen your pelvic floor muscles so you can live with confidence.
What Is Urinary Incontinence (Bladder Leakage)?
Do you have to frequently rush to the restroom? Do you have small leaks when you laugh, cough, or exercise? If so, you’re not alone. At Breathe., we know bladder issues can be inconvenient and embarrassing. However, while these problems affect millions of women every day, they don’t have to be your new normal.
What Are the Types of Incontinence?
There are different types of incontinence that come from different urinary issues. These include:
- Stress incontinence: This is when stress or physical movement like a cough, sneeze, laugh, or jump causes you to leak.
- Urge incontinence: This is when you need to really go and are unable to hold it in. This can cause you to leak before you make it to the restroom.
Urinary Issues Can Result From:
- An uncoordinated, tight, or weak pelvic floor
- Hip or core weakness
- Posture or breathing issues
- Drinking habits (not enough water, etc.)
- Bathroom habits
- Constipation
- Medication side effects
- Stress, and more!
What Are the Risk Factors?
Did you know women are twice as likely as men to have urinary incontinence issues? While anyone can suffer from urinary incontinence, it’s most common in women who:
- Are pregnant
- Have recently given birth
- Are over the age of 50
- Are recovering from a surgery
- Have a medical condition such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, etc.
How Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy at Breathe. Can Help:
At Breathe., no subject is off-limits — including leaky bladders. In fact, pelvic floor therapy is one of the top specialties that our team offers. Our team of physical therapists will help you untangle the sometimes complicated lifestyle causes of leaking and combine that with specific exercises that are just right for your body to help you stay dry. Our strategies include:
Pelvic Floor Exercises
Your plan will include learning to connect with your pelvic floor muscles and to coordinate them with your breathing and movements. Some people need to gain confidence in relaxing their overactive pelvic floor muscles, and some need to learn to contract them better with exercises like kegels. 40% of women don’t know how to contract their pelvic floor muscles correctly, and we excel at teaching this skill. You might also get trained in coordinating your pelvic floor muscles and your breath with exercises like bridges and squats so you’re ready to control leaks in any situation.
Bladder Control Strategies
We’ll help you learn strategies to take control of your bladder so it isn’t controlling you when stressful situations or urges arise. By retraining your bladder, you’ll be able to gradually reduce the number of trips to the restroom and the frequency of leaks.
Lifestyle Recommendations
Managing the amount of caffeine, alcohol, spicy foods, and other irritants can play an effective role in reducing issues. We’ll help you identify irritants and modify your diet to reduce bladder issues. In addition to dietary contributions to bladder leaks, we’ll also guide you to understand how stress and anxiety can contribute to leaking and give you strategies to keep these things from impacting your bladder health.
Our Unique Approach to Pelvic Health at Breathe.
At Breathe., we believe in a holistic, full-body approach to the health of your pelvic floor. When you visit, you will meet one-on-one with a physical therapist in a relaxing non-medical atmosphere. We will listen carefully to you to explore the impact bladder symptoms are having on your life, discuss the potential causes, then help you put together a personalized action plan for treatment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Incontinence & Leaking
How Many Times Is It Normal to Pee a Day?
This is a common question! It’s normal to use the restroom up to eight times each day and once at night. A healthy bladder should be able to last three to four hours between trips to the restroom. If you seem to be going more than normal, we can help develop a personalized plan.
Should I Drink Less Water If I'm Peeing a Lot?
Many people think they should drink less water to reduce the number of trips to the restroom. However, this could actually lead to more irritation in your bladder. It’s important to continue drinking between 48 and 64 ounces of water each day while reducing other irritants like caffeinated beverages and alcohol.
Can I Schedule a Virtual Visit?
Yes. We offer appointments via telehealth as an option for all of our clients.