Ever wonder why you feel the need to run to the bathroom as soon as you get an urge to urinate?
Are you worried that you won’t make it to the toilet in time before you start to leak? You are not alone!
Urge urinary incontinence (UUI) is the leakage of urine with a strong urge to urinate and you are unable to make it to the bathroom in time. This does not occur with physical exertion which is Stress Urinary Incontinence. However, people can have mixed incontinence which is dealing with both stress and urge incontinence.
The prevalence of urinary incontinence (stress and urge incontinence combined) in the US is 53%! More than half the people you know are peeing their pants in some way. The prevalence of urge urinary incontinence alone in the US is 10%.
What causes Urge Urinary Incontinence?
The causes are multifactorial and unique to the individual. The causes can be 1 single thing or a combination of several things. Some common causes include, but are not limited to:
- Poor bladder habits — Just In Case peeing, hovering over the toilet
- Upregulated Nervous System, anxiety, stress (physical and mental)
- Tension in the pelvic floor, inner thigh muscles, abdominals, foot/ankle
- Scar tissue from abdominal or pelvic surgeries (especially c-section scars!)
- Dehydration
- Consuming individual bladder irritants
- Constipation
- True bladder dysfunction
What can help UUI?
Depending on what’s causing the UUI, this will greatly impact the treatment. The best thing to do is be evaluated by your medical provider and a pelvic health therapist. This will help to lay out the best plan for you rather than shooting in the dark. And if you’ve tried bladder medications with no luck—then absolutely consult with a pelvic floor therapist to rule out other causes.
We are happy to help you at GOAL Physical Therapy and Wellness! Give us a call at 419-455-1625.