Overview
Urinary incontinence affects millions of women, men and children.
The condition can be improved – or even resolved – with specialized physical therapy treatments.
Trust the therapists at Ballad Health to help relieve your symptoms.
What is urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence is a condition where you have involuntary loss of urine.
Most people feel it is a natural part of aging, so they don’t seek help. But urinary incontinence is caused by a physical problem, and you should not feel embarrassed to get help.
What causes urinary incontinence?
Urinary incontinence can be caused by:
- Childbirth
- Hormonal changes, such as menopause
- Medications
- Pelvic or abdominal surgery
- Prostate surgery or other prostate conditions
- Vaginal infections
- Weakened bladder, pelvic floor or urethral sphincter muscles
What are the different types of incontinence?
There are four main types of incontinence – stress, urge, mixed and overflow.
Stress incontinence
Stress incontinence is when urine loss happens during exercise or physical exertion. Leakage often occurs when a person laughs, coughs, sneezes or lifts something.
Many people with this problem use the bathroom often to avoid potential accidents.
Urge incontinence
Urge incontinence is when a person has only a few seconds or minutes warning before feeling a strong sensation to urinate. Leakage often occurs when a person is on the way to the bathroom or drinking, touching or hearing running water.
Many people with this problem use the bathroom often during the day and night.
Mixed incontinence
Mixed incontinence is when a person has signs and symptoms of both stress incontinence and urge incontinence.
Overflow incontinence
Overflow incontinence is when a person is unable to completely empty out the bladder. The person will urinate a small amount and still feel as if the bladder is partially full.
Many people with this problem get up during the night to use the bathroom because of the need to urinate, but cannot. People with this problem often leak urine during the day and night.
Incontinence services and treatment
Partner with Ballad Health for excellent nonsurgical treatments for your incontinence problems.
Your care might begin with one or more of these approaches to help relieve your symptoms:
- Pelvic floor therapy – to help you learn to strengthen and relax your pelvic muscles to improve bladder function
- Nutritional counseling – to help avoid common bladder irritants, such as caffeine, artificial sweeteners and citrus juices
- Lifestyle changes – including weight loss, bladder training and Kegel exercises
- Medication – to control symptoms
- Physical therapy – to help support your organs though exercise
Where to find treatment for urinary incontinence
Team up with our therapists at a location near you (listed below) throughout Northeast Tennessee or Southwest Virginia.