Word choice and verbal instruction impacts how one performs a pelvic floor muscle contraction. Previous research on women suggests that around 40% of women do not perform a kegel or pelvic floor muscle contraction correctly with verbal instruction and 25% of them were doing something that would increase the likelihood of leaking such as holding...
Do you experience urinary leaking with jumping jacks, double-unders, box jumps or while jumping on the trampoline? Maybe you’re avoiding jumping altogether for fear of leaking or pelvic heaviness. Jumping is a great exercise as it helps build muscle strength and power, while challenging the cardiovascular system. It requires coordination, agility, and can be beneficial...
6 Ways to Reduce Urge Related Urinary Incontinence By Berrin Boyce, PT, DPT, PRPC Urinary urge incontinence or leaking with a strong sense of urge is estimated to impact 20-30% of women. In clinical practice I frequently work with patients of all genders and ages who experience urge related incontinence that interferes with work, school,...
Does cycling contribute to men’s pelvic floor dysfunction? There is conflicting evidence on the effect of cycling and pelvic floor dysfunction in men. As the sport becomes more popular, especially here in Boulder, it is imperative to review the current literature to understand the effect, if any, this sport has on your pelvic floor and...
Control of our bladder and bowels are some of our most primal functions as humans and when something goes awry with those systems, it can be especially defeating for us. One cause of urinary or fecal incontinence can be due to what is called “urge incontinence”, which refers to leakage occurring when one cannot control...
The brain, bladder, and pelvic floor are a system that need to work in harmony together. An issue with any of those regions in the system will affect the others regions and can lead to bladder dysfunction. Dysfunction may appear as: leaking before you make it to the toilet (urge incontinence), leaking during activity or...
Pubic symphysis pain, commonly known as symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD), affects around 30% of pregnant individuals. SPD manifests with symptoms such as localized tenderness, discomfort during specific movements like turning in bed or getting in and out of a car, and shooting pain in various areas like the lower abdomen, back, pelvis, perineum, and thighs. ...
At our Boulder pelvic physical therapy clinic, we often see the cause of a pelvic floor dysfunction being tension, not weakness, of pelvic floor muscles. This applies not just to those that identify as female, but those identifying as males as well. Muscles that are holding more tension than they should, cannot properly function. So...
By now, you’ve probably heard of the “pelvic floor” as it is becoming a household term, but are you aware of how vital the pelvic floor is for our athletic success? The pelvic floor is the name given to the group of muscles, ligaments, fascia, and nerves that live in and around the bony pelvis....
Quick answer: NO. Often what is seen clinically in those who experience urine leakage with something like walking, running, or jumping movements, is that these individuals will begin to clench and contract their pelvic floor during these activities to try to prevent leakage. While that seems to make logical sense, this technique often doesn’t solve...
