Mayo Clinic Health System
  • Patient Online Services
  • Pay Bill Online
  • Request an Appointment
    • Services
    • Providers
    • Locations

      Minnesota

      • Adams
      • Albert Lea
      • Austin
      • Belle Plaine
      • Blooming Prairie
      • Butterfield
      • Caledonia
      • Cannon Falls
      • Fairmont
      • Faribault
      • Janesville
      • Kenyon
      • Lake City
      • Le Sueur
      • Mankato
      • Montgomery
      • New Prague
      • New Richland
      • Northfield
      • Owatonna
      • Plainview
      • Red Wing
      • Sherburn
      • St. James
      • St. Peter
      • Waseca
      • Waterville
      • Wells
      • Zumbrota

      Wisconsin

      • Arcadia
      • Barron
      • Bloomer
      • Chetek
      • Chippewa Falls
      • Eau Claire
      • Ellsworth
      • Glenwood City
      • Holmen
      • La Crosse
      • Menomonie
      • Mondovi
      • Onalaska
      • Osseo
      • Prairie du Chien
      • Rice Lake
      • Sparta
      • Tomah

      Iowa

      • Decorah
      • Lake Mills

      View map
    • Classes/Events
    • Blog
    • Wellness
    • Referrals
    • COVID-19
    • Request an Appointment
    • Patient Online Services
    • Pay Bills Online
    • Refer a Patient
    Posted By
    Jenny Hastreiter, P.T.

    Jenny Hastreiter, P.T.

    Physical Therapy

    Featured Topics
    • Behavioral Health
    • Cancer
    • Children's Health (Pediatrics)
    • COVID-19
    • COVID-19 Vaccine
    • Exercise and Fitness
    • Heart Health
    • Men's Health
    • Neurosurgery
    • Obstetrics and Gynecology
    • Orthopedic Health
    • Weight Loss and Bariatric Surgery
    • Women's Health
    Join our email newsletter
    Speaking of Health
    Thursday, April 30, 2015

    Constantly looking for a restroom?

    restrooms

    No one wants to be incontinent. But, it can and does happen, even to healthy individuals. Urinary incontinence — the loss of bladder control — can lead to anxiety, social isolation, loss of independence and increased risk of falls. Fortunately, help is available.

    Take a recent patient of mine for an example of how incontinence can begin:

    “As I set off to compete in my fifth half marathon, I felt that I had adequately trained and prepared for the race. What I hadn’t anticipated was having a cold and cough for about a week before the race. Although I had recovered from the coughing and sneezing, my pelvic floor had not recovered from the acute stress the coughing and sneezing placed on it. About eight miles into the 13.1-mile race, I felt a leak occur and then another and then another, as I ran on. I had heard about other people having this problem before, but no one ever told me there was anything I could do about it.”

    After a physician referral, the patient met with me. I’m a physical therapist who provides pelvic health physical therapy treatment at Mayo Clinic Health System – Northland. After a thorough evaluation and consultation, I came up with a program that would help the patient to prevent further incontinence issues.

    Here is what you need to know about urinary incontinence:

    • It typically takes women six and one-half years to report problems with incontinence to their providers.
    • It is not a normal part of growing older and having children. Anyone can develop incontinence, but it is not a normal part of aging.
    • Don’t be embarrassed to seek treatment — you are not alone.
    • Your symptoms can vary. Leaking can occur because of urgency, coughing, sneezing, lifting, jumping, running and other activities.
    • Physical therapy can help you though use of biofeedback, exercises (including Kegels), manual therapy and lifestyle modifications.
    • Doing Kegel exercises incorrectly can make things worse. Please see a specially trained therapist to receive proper instruction.
    • Physical therapy can provide an average of 80 percent improvement in symptoms.
    • Treatment can help men and women ages 6 to 106. It is never too late.

    For the safety of our patients, staff and visitors, Mayo Clinic has strict masking policies in place. Anyone shown without a mask was either recorded prior to COVID-19 or recorded in a non-patient care area where social distancing and other safety protocols were followed.
    Topics in this Post
    • Urinary Incontinence

    Related Posts

    Illustrated woman with hands over pelvic area What is urge incontinence, and how is it treated?
    Dorothy Sorlie Woman gets life back after unexpected hydrocephalus diagnosis
    Child with a braided ponytail smiling Physical therapy benefits children with bowel, bladder issues

    Stay Connected

    • Contact Us
    • Notice of Nondiscrimination
    • Notice of Privacy Practices
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
    • Careers
    • Volunteer
    • Donate
    • For Patients & Visitors
    • Financial Assistance
    • Community Resources
    • Mayo Clinic Connect
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Press Room
    • Mayo Clinic
    • Home
    © 2018 - 2022 Mayo Clinic Health System