What is the Pelvic Floor Exercises – Incontinence?
Urinary incontinence refers to the gradual loss of control over the urinary bladder, resulting in involuntary urine leakage (inability to hold urine) constantly or intermittently. It is not a disease but a symptom that arises from one or more disorders of the urinary system. It is not a “normal” aging phenomenon. It affects women more than men, and its prevalence is particularly high, affecting millions of people regardless of age.
Today, physiotherapy is widely considered the first-choice treatment for urinary incontinence. Global health organizations such as the International Continence Society (ICS) and the International Organization of Physical Therapists in Women’s Health (IOPTWH) define physiotherapy as an integral part of the prevention and management of incontinence symptoms through the strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles, commonly known as Kegel exercises.
What are the benefits of pelvic floor exercises?
The muscles of the pelvic floor are located between the pubic bone in the front of the pelvis and the coccyx at the back of the pelvic area. The benefits of pelvic floor exercises include:
- ● Improved control of the urinary bladder
- ● Prevention or reduction of urinary incontinence
- ● Strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles
- ● Addressing the consequences of pelvic floor muscle relaxation
- ● Prevention or improvement of pelvic organ prolapse
- ● Restoration of pelvic area balance after surgeries, childbirth, or obesity
- ● Applicable to both men and women