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Many people lose urine when they don’t want to. When this happens enough to be a problem, it is called urinary incontinence.
Urinary incontinence is not a natural part of aging. It can happen at any age and can be caused by many physical conditions.
Weakness of the pelvic floor muscles which form a sling or support around the urethra, vagina, and rectum may cause leakage of urine or prolapse of the bladder, uterus, or rectum. Pregnancy, childbirth, obesity, chronic coughing, chronic constipation, estrogen deficiency and improper lifting (while holding one’s breath) can weaken the pelvic floor muscles.
Although incontinence is common, it is not normal and can be treated by a medical team approach including a physical therapist. A therapist can evaluate your problem and help you manage urinary incontinence through low-risk interventions which can be used alone or in conjunction with pharmacological and surgical options.
If you think you may benefit from physical therapy ask your physician to refer you to a physical therapist who has received special training in this area. A pelvic exam and urinalysis are strongly recommended prior to referral in order to identify or rule out problems that may interfere with or be contraindicative of physical therapy treatment.