Successful treatment options are now available to decrease incontinence without surgery.

Because bladder problems are often caused by weak pelvic floor muscles (the muscles surrounding the bladder), muscle rehabilitation may be necessary to achieve continence. This type of rehabilitation can be offered at your physician's office and, if indicated, be supplemented with home therapy. Office-based pelvic floor therapy consists of a series of four to eight visits, each lasting approximately 30-45 minutes. A continence care specialist will provide bladder and behavioral retraining techniques to strengthen weakened muscles. Additionally, a home exercise plan will increase strength and improve use of the pelvic floor muscles that control bladder problems.

Some people experience urine loss while coughing, sneezing or during other physical activities. This is called stress incontinence. This is a common type of incontinence in women after childbirth, menopause or even surgery. Pelvic floor therapy can help rehabilitate the weakened supportive muscles that cause this problem.

Spasms of the bladder, indicated by an urgent and sometimes painful need to urinate, frequent trips to the bathroom, and possible urine loss is frequently called an "overactive bladder." Pelvic floor therapy has been shown to improve or correct the symptoms associated with this condition. The symptoms of an "overactive bladder" can be experienced alone or in combination with stress incontinence.

What is a treatment session like?

After simple diagnostic testing, you and your health care provider will decide if a pelvic floor program is an appropriate therapeutic option for you. A Woman's View's Incontinence Therapy Program is operated by Dianne Keller, RNC, who will work with you in your sessions. Improvement is often seen within two to four weeks. Complete treatment sessions can range from four to eight visits, each lasting approximately 30-45 minutes.

The session itself is comprised of an Exercise Phase during which a small vaginal or rectal sensor is inserted and you simulate trying to stop the flow of urine. The sensor allows your muscle contraction to be viewed on a special computer screen that you and Nancy will view. Also, small patch electrodes will be placed across the abdominal muscles to help you eliminate abdominal muscle movement. As you learn to correctly use your internal muscles and isolate and strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, you will notice an improvement in your symptoms.

Following the exercise phase, you will begin the next phase of your session, the Stimulation Phase. In this phase, your internal sensor will deliver a painless electrical signal that will cause the muscle to contract. This helps to retrain the muscle and decreases the symptoms of an "overactive bladder."

Who is a candidate for pelvic floor therapy?

You are a candidate for this therapy if you answer "yes" to any of these questions:

• Do you experience urgency, frequency and possible involuntary loss of urine?
• Do you suffer from stress incontinence: urine loss associated with coughing, sneezing, laughing, etc.?
• Have you had problems with incontinence since having a baby?

A Woman's View, uses equipment and procedures developed by Hollister Incorporated. We are pleased to be a partner with them in the treatment of this disorder that affects so many women. If you have any questions about Incontinence Therapy, please contact A Woman's View, PA at (828)345-0800.