CMH Rehab offers therapy for incontinence issues

 (Hudson, NY - June 6, 2007 ) – Urinary incontinence, loss of bladder control, and "accidents" are all words which describe a physical condition that affects an estimated 13 million Americans every day. Statistics indicate that 25-30% of all women over the age of 35 experience some form of urinary incontinence. This disorder, however, can also affect men and women of all age groups, according to Columbia Memorial Director of Rehabilitation Services, Greg Jason, DPT, MSHA.

"The social and emotional stress associated with incontinence problems can be startling," says Jason.

"Many people suffering from incontinence are often too embarrassed to seek medical help. Many curb their lifestyles to exclude activities that may trigger an accident such as running and other recreational activities, even dancing. Others become confined to their home," he says.

According to Jason, during the last decade, physical therapists began working with physicians on an exercise program to help patients regain strength and control of the pelvic floor muscles. The pelvic floor is the connective tissue underneath the pelvis.

Called a Kegel exercise, it is designed to strengthen the pubococcygeus muscles in that pelvic area. The exercises consist of the regular clenching and unclenching of these muscles and are an effective treatment for incontinence.

"At Columbia Memorial, we also include protocols which go beyond Kegel exercises such as patient education about the pelvic floor muscles, normal bladder function, bladder re-training, and other strengthening exercises," says Jason.

"The strengthening exercises are done with a computerized biofeedback system that provides the patient with an immediate on-screen readout of pelvic muscle contractions. The system also provides other data for the physician and therapist to interpret to help the patient in their goal of regaining normal muscle function," he continues.

This program has proved to be very successful after childbirth to regain muscle strength of the pelvic floor.  Starting treatment a few months after birth may also prevent a lifetime of incontinence problems, according to Jason.

"Columbia Memorial Rehab Department has been providing incontinence treatments for a few years and our success rate is excellent. We frequently hear the remark ‘I wish I knew about this program before!’," says Jason.

For more information about this program, call the Rehab Department at 828 - 8704.

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