A properly working pelvic floor muscle system is responsible, among other things, for holding and storing gas and stool, and for holding urine.
Urinary incontinence is one of the most common postpartum complaints. According to recent research it affects a growing number of women and does not resolve on its own even five years after the birth. On the simplest definition it is uncontrolled leakage of urine, whatever the cause (stress, urge, mixed). A further problem is that fewer than half of women take it to a doctor.
Faecal incontinence also has its causes in birth injuries, as well as in surgical injuries around the anus and stretching of the anal sphincters (anal intercourse, placing large objects in the anus).
Therapy
- Detailed history
- Assessment of pelvic floor muscle function
- Learning correct posture for passing urine and opening the bowels
- Individual pelvic floor training
- Learning to contract and release the pelvic floor muscles correctly
- A self-therapy programme
- Learning to work with the breath
- Assessment of sphincter function