Do you pee during workouts? Some pelvic health colleagues posted a link to this Crossfit video and we don’t find it funny (see some other responses here, here, and here). Why? Leaking even a tiny amount of urine is considered incontinence. Yes, it’s extremely common! Research reports between 10% and 55% in 15- to 64-year-old women have involuntary leakage. We (pelvic health PTs) estimate that this is just the tip of the iceberg. So many women don’t report it because they’re embarrassed about it or assume it’s just something they have to live with.
This is something that is rarely spoken about in public, for obvious reasons – other than maybe joked about among mommy groups. If you had no idea there was an easy fix, I understand you might be tempted to make light of the situation rather than be embarrassed by it (what I think the Crossfit video is aiming to do). But, the truth is, this is not something to be taken lightly. If left untreated, the leakage can get worse. It can progress from just occasionally with high impact activities to you needing adult diapers on a daily basis. 50% or more of nursing home residents suffer from incontinence – in fact, it is a common reason for admission. The good news is it’s fixable! Evidence is stronger in support of pelvic health physical therapy for stress incontinence than surgery!
Learn more in the upcoming blog series "Bladder Basics"...
Up next: what can you do right now to help reverse or prevent urinary incontinence?
This is something that is rarely spoken about in public, for obvious reasons – other than maybe joked about among mommy groups. If you had no idea there was an easy fix, I understand you might be tempted to make light of the situation rather than be embarrassed by it (what I think the Crossfit video is aiming to do). But, the truth is, this is not something to be taken lightly. If left untreated, the leakage can get worse. It can progress from just occasionally with high impact activities to you needing adult diapers on a daily basis. 50% or more of nursing home residents suffer from incontinence – in fact, it is a common reason for admission. The good news is it’s fixable! Evidence is stronger in support of pelvic health physical therapy for stress incontinence than surgery!
- Fact: it’s not just “women who have had babies” who suffer from incontinence. Other factors, such as excess weight or participating in high impact sports, put women who have never given birth at risk as well. Men are not excluded from this problem either.
- Fact: overactive bladder (symptoms of urgency, frequency and feelings of incomplete voiding) can lead to incontinence if left untreated.
- Fact: most cases of urinary incontinence can be helped by strengthening/coordinating pelvic floor muscles or relaxing & (down training or lengthening) then strengthening/coordinating
- Fact: for many women, it’s more complex than just doing a bunch of Kegels on a daily basis.
Learn more in the upcoming blog series "Bladder Basics"...
Up next: what can you do right now to help reverse or prevent urinary incontinence?
References:
- Bø K. (2004). Urinary incontinence, pelvic floor dysfunction, exercise and sport. Sports Med, 34(7), 451-464.
- Bø K. (2011). Urinary incontinence among group fitness instructors including yoga and pilates teachers. Neurology and Urodynamics, 30(3), 370-373.
- Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute
- Nygaard, I. E., et al. (1994). Urinary Incontinence in Elite Nulliparous Athletes. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 84(2), 183-187.
- Shamliyan, T. A., et al. (2008). Systematic Review: randomized, controlled trials of nonsurgical treatments for urinary incontinence in women. Annals of Internal Medicine, 148, 459-473.
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