Urinary incontinence affects up to 30 percent of women in their lifetime, often due to the stress and strain on the pelvic muscles and other organs during childbirth. Occasionally, the condition affects men as well, particularly those who have had prostate surgery.  

Three types of incontinence exist:

Stress: Urinary leakage associated with laughing, coughing and sneezing. This is the most common type of incontinence in women.

Urge: The overwhelming need to urinate and the inability to hold it long enough to reach the toilet.

Overflow: Frequent leakage from a full bladder that never completely empties.

A doctor must determine the best course of action, whether it is medication, surgery or physical therapy. Thomas Hospital Rehab Services offers a comprehensive Urinary Incontinence Program that utilizes a combination of behavior modification, education and exercise to improve or alleviate the condition.

To find out more about how Thomas Hospital's Urinary Incontinence Program can help you, call Connie Gillespie, supervising physical therapist at Thomas Hospital, at 279-3641.