At some point we have all had a little (or a lot ) urine leakage. Usually this occurs when we laugh, cough or sneeze. Most women chalk this up to a normal process of aging and put up with it. Although this is considered a common occurrence it is not something that we should have to “live with”. Leakage of urine either small or large with increased abdominal pressure is considered Stress Urinary Incontinence. What this means is anytime we experience increased pressure in our

Constipation is defined as the difficult passage and infrequent (fewer than three) bowel movements per week. Constipation is another possible cause of bladder control problems. When the rectum is full of stool, it may disturb the bladder and cause incontinence or the sensation of the urgency and frequency. Because constipation may be caused by medications you are taking for other conditions, changes in bowel habits should always be reported to your physician. If you have a hi

In resting conditions the pelvic floor musculature maintains a constant baseline contraction which helps maintain urinary and fecal continence and support the pelvic organs. The pelvic floor also has the ability to produce stronger contractions anytime there is an increase in abdominal pressure. For example, when we cough or sneeze our pelvic floor has the ability to contract more to help maintain closure of the urethra against that increase in abdominal pressure. Once the pr

Hydration Drinking enough liquids, especially water, keeps urine from getting too strong. Concentrated urine causes bladder urgency, has a foul odor, and can cause urinary tract infections and skin infections. Caffeine Intake Caffeine is considered bladder irritant and stimulant. This can lead to urgency, frequency and increased production of urine. Caffeine can hide in coffee, teak, carbonated beverage, chocolate, and some over the counter allergy and cold medication. Bowel

Living with pelvic pain affects aspects of your life that are "private." Pelvic pain affects bowel, bladder, and sexual functions. Because these issues are viewed as "private" by many women, pelvic pain will often go undiagnosed, underappreciated, and most fearful UNDERREPORTED! Usually this trend continues until the condition has become debilitating. Chronic pelvic pain in many cases is treatable through coaching and training from a women's health physical therapy expert of

If you have been suffering from urinary urgency or urge urinary incontinence you may find relief by changing your diet. We sometimes forget that what we put into our body exacerbates or even could be the root cause of certain health issues. What we eat and drink can have an impact on how our bladder functions. Things we eat and drink could be contributing to bladder irritation which could increase the occurrence of urgency during our day. Potential Bladder Irritants Alcoholi

Welcome to all women that have taken steps to conquering your health, commit to a life of being active, and are proactive in understanding your body. Also welcome to women that are curious and that need guidance to initiate those steps. We hope you find comfort in us and welcome our knowledge when it comes to working with women. For nearly 20 years Total Physical Therapy has been your trusted source of information for living well and over the past couple years we have started