Urinary incontinence?
Faecal Incontinence?
Pelvic floor physiotherapy can help!
Understanding Urinary and faecal Incontinence
Urinary and faecal incontinence are common conditions that affect many people, yet they are often surrounded by stigma due to embarrassment or the belief that they are a normal part of ageing, pregnancy, or childbirth. Incontinence can affect men, women, trans and intersex individuals, children, and anyone with a pelvic floor.
Incontinence refers to the involuntary loss of urine or stool. It may present as bladder leakage during activities such as coughing, sneezing, or exercise. It can also involve a sudden urgency to rush to the toilet, difficulty controlling bowel movements (constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, loose stools) , or a sensation of incomplete emptying. These symptoms may occur in conditions such as urge incontinence (that can impact both bladder and bowel), overactive bladder, or interstitial cystitis, but can also be associated with pelvic organ prolapse, poor bladder and bowel habits, or following pelvic or abdominal surgeries such as prostatectomy or hysterectomy.
Although these symptoms can be distressing, effective treatment is available. Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a first-line, evidence-based approach recommended in many clinical guidelines for the management of bladder and bowel control problems.
What is Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy?
Pelvic floor physiotherapy focuses on the muscles, nerves, and connective tissues that support the bladder, bowel, and pelvic organs. These muscles play a crucial role in maintaining continence, supporting pelvic organs, and coordinating with breathing and abdominal pressure during daily activities.
When the pelvic floor muscles become weak, overactive, poorly coordinated, or injured (for example after childbirth or surgery), bladder and bowel control can be affected.
Pelvic health physiotherapists are specially trained to assess and rehabilitate these muscles through targeted treatment strategies.
Conditions Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Can Help With:
Stress urinary incontinence (leakage with coughing, sneezing, or exercise)
Urgency urinary incontinence (sudden strong urge to urinate)
Mixed urinary incontinence
Faecal incontinence or bowel leakage
Urgency or difficulty controlling bowel movements
Pelvic floor weakness after pregnancy or childbirth
Pelvic floor dysfunction related to ageing or surgery
Many people notice significant improvements when these conditions are treated with an individualised rehabilitation program.
What to expect during an Assessment
A pelvic floor physiotherapy consultation usually includes a comprehensive assessment to understand your symptoms and identify the underlying causes of incontinence.
This may include:
A discussion about bladder and bowel symptoms
Review of medical, obstetric, and lifestyle history
Assessment of pelvic floor muscle strength and coordination (optional)
Evaluation of breathing, posture, and abdominal pressure management
Identification of lifestyle or behavioural factors contributing to symptoms
Assessment findings help guide a personalised treatment plan.
Treatment Approaches
Treatment is tailored to each person and may include:
Pelvic Floor Muscle Training (PFMT)
Specific exercises designed to improve the strength, coordination, and endurance of the pelvic floor muscles.
Bladder and Bowel Retraining
Strategies to improve bladder and bowel habits, reduce urgency, and optimise toileting patterns.
Education and Lifestyle Advice
Guidance on fluid intake, bowel health, diet, physical activity, and strategies to reduce strain on the pelvic floor.
Muscle Coordination and Relaxation Training
For individuals with pelvic floor overactivity or difficulty relaxing during bowel movements.
Functional Rehabilitation
Training the pelvic floor to work effectively during daily activities such as lifting, coughing, exercise, and sport.