Underactive Pelvic Floor Muscles
Conditions:
Urinary and Fecal Incontinence
Incontinence/Leakage of Urine or Feces: Incontinence is the complaint of any involuntary leakage of urine or stool. Incontinence affects approximately 31% of women between the ages of 42-50 and the incidence increases to almost 40% in women over 60. Causes of incontinence are multi-factorial but can include: childbirth, increased intra-abdominal pressure, surgery, and aging. The pelvic floor muscles, fascia, and ligaments provide the support for the bladder, uterus, and rectum. A loss in the integrity of any of these structures may be the cause of urinary or fecal incontinence.
Symptoms:
There are three types of incontinence based on the clinical presentation: urge, stress, and mixed incontinence. Non-surgical treatments for incontinence include pelvic floor muscle exercise, biofeedback, electrical stimulation, and vaginal weights.
- Urge incontinence: the complaint of involuntary leakage accompanied by or immediately preceded by urgency
- Stress incontinence: the complaint of involuntary leakage on effort or exertion, or on sneezing or coughing
- Mixed incontinence: the complaint of involuntary leakage associated with urgency and also with exertion, effort, sneezing or coughing
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
is a loss of the support structures (ie. fascia, ligaments) within the pelvic cavity resulting in a descent of the pelvic organs. Bladder and Vaginal Prolapse are common examples.
Symptoms:
- heaviness, a feeling of "falling out"
- pressure in the pelvis, and back pain
- may also accompany urinary/fecal incontinence