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Category: Pelvic Floor

His TherapyBlogPelvic Floor
By Office Bladder Health, Health, His Thearpy, Incontinence, Pelvic Floor, Pelvic Health, Uncategorized, Water , , ,

How Can Alkaline Water Affect Bladder Health?

Alkaline refers to the pH level of the water. The pH level measures how acidic or alkaline a substance is on a scale of 0-14. For example, lemon juice (pH 2) and vinegar (pH 3) are both very acidic, while baking soda (8-9 pH) and milk of magnesia (10-11 pH) are both very alkaline. At pH 8-9, alkaline water has a higher pH than regular drinking water, which is around 7. Alkaline water can have benefits such as:

  • Weight Loss
  • Better Hydration
  • Increased Athletic Performance
  • Increased Energy
  • Improved Clarity
  • Boosted Immune System
  • Promoted Healing and Longevity

There have been many studies that have found that alkaline water can be extremely effective in decreasing acid reflux by inactivating the enzyme pepsin. Alkaline water can also reduce the blood viscosity, allowing the blood to flow through the body with more ease after an intense workout.

Drinking more water, especially alkaline water, can help people who struggle with urinary incontinence. One source states,

“Drinking more water may actually help and does not exasperate the problem. Your body must have water to function properly and drinking less of it can irritate the bladder and increase urination frequency. Water is pure and your body uses it to flush out excess amounts of acid and bacteria. Sipping water all day long is a good habit that you can try to help your incontinence to improve.”

– https://freedrinkingwater.com/water_health/incontinence-treatment-drinking-filtered-water.htm

Alkaline water can also accelerate the excretion of melamine, preventing the accumulation in the bladder that can cause stones. Low urine pH can indicate metabolic syndrome, manifesting in symptoms such as kidney stones, high cholesterol, unstable and high blood sugar, unstable and high blood pressure, weight problems, and more. Drinking alkaline water can keep you hydrated, increase the pH of your urine, and keep infection-causing bacteria low.

According to the National Association for Continence:

  • An estimated 12.2 million adults have urge incontinence
  • An estimated 17 million adults in the US have daily Urinary Incontinence, and a further 33 million also have the overlapping condition, Overactive Bladder
  • Approximately 1 out of 3 women over the age of 45, and 1 out of every 2 women over 65, have stress urinary incontinence, affecting 15 million women
  • OAB and UI are about twice as frequently occurring in women as in men.

At His Therapy Wellness Center, we want to help anyone suffering from urinary and bowel urgency and incontinence, and any other pelvic health issues. Please let us know how we can help improve your health concerns by giving us a call at 864-534-1780, emailing us at office@histherapy.net , or visiting resources on our website www.histherapy.net. We hope you have a blessed day!

Sources:

By Sabina Kapasi Pelvic Floor, Pregnancy

Importance of Post Partum Pelvic Floor Eval

Ok ladies, let’s talk pelvic floor. As women, we are often so busy taking care of everyone else- our husbands, children, elderly parents, Susie down the street- we often neglect ourselves and our bodies. Many of us haven’t given a second thought to our pelvic floor since we first learned about it.. You know, that group of muscles that hold our organs INSIDE our bodies and helps them function properly! So we have a baby, or two, or three or more, and we notice we don’t have control over our bladders like we did pre-baby (or babies), our abdominal muscles don’t work as they once did, or even something more significant like pelvic prolapse. We get our oil changed regularly in our cars, we take our kids to their wellness visits, why don’t we give our bodies that kind of special attention? There are many affects pregnancy and delivery may have on our body that we think may be just part of it all, but we DON’T have to live with them. So whether you had a baby a week ago or 10 years ago, it is important to have a pelvic health physical therapist evaluate your pelvic floor to determine whether you have weakness or damage to your pelvic floor that can lead to significant complications in the future.

By Sabina Kapasi Pain, Pelvic Floor

Pelvic Floor Pain Support Group

When you are dealing with chronic pain, it is important to have a good support network. Studies show there was a direct, significant association between social support and pain. Even the most supportive family and friends can’t truly understand what you are going through, and you may feel all alone. His Therapy is offering a FREE pelvic floor pain support group meeting the last Monday of every month. Sabina Weaver, a licensed PT specializing in pelvic floor rehab will facilitate these sessions. With almost 20 years of experience in her field, she will be able to explain the science behind pelvic floor pain, provide tangible tools on helping you manage the pain, as well as compassionately offer emotional support. You will be amazed at how many people suffer from the same pain and related challenges as you do, and how refreshing it is to meet others in such similar situations. The group will meet at His Therapy from 6 to 8 every last Monday of each month. Join us for the first session on Monday Oct 30th.

By Sabina Kapasi Pain, Pelvic Floor

Symptoms and Causes of Pelvic Floor Pain

In the US, approximately 15 percent of women report chronic pelvic pain. However, it is not a subject we feel comfortable talking about publicly, so often it can go undiagnosed and untreated. Chronic pelvic pain is pain in the area below your belly button and between your hips that lasts six months or longer. This can be severe and steady pain, intermittent pain, or pressure and cramping within your pelvis. Other symptoms may include pain during intercourse, pain while having a bowel movement or urinating, or pain when sitting for extended periods of time. Chronic pain can make it difficult to sleep, work, or enjoy life. It can also lead to depression and anxiety. Pelvic pain may stem from the musculoskeletal system, urinary tract, gastrointestinal tract, gynecological, or even psychological factors, so it is important to get evaluated to see what is causing your pain. Pelvic floor physical therapy is a huge component in the treatment of pelvic pain. During treatment, our specialized PT will address the muscular component of pain- teaching you to relax the muscles of the pelvic floor, may provide manual therapy of the pelvic floor muscles, as well perform myofascial release of painful trigger points of pelvic floor when necessary. There are several modalities that can assist in rehabilitation- biofeedback, electrical stimulation, and dilators, to name a few. Also during your visit, your PT will address the behavioral component of your pain- what you eat and drink, as well as bathroom and sleep habits. If you would also like emotional support, His Therapy offers a monthly women’s support group for chronic pelvic pain. Call our office today for more information and to reserve your spot. 864-534-1780.

By Sabina Kapasi Pelvic Floor, Pregnancy

Pelvic Floor Issues During and After Pregnancy

To all expectant or postpartum mommies. 

Take care of your pelvic floor! Women who have had multiple births, instrumental births, severe perineal tearing or large babies are often at a greater risk for pelvic floor muscle damage. The pelvic floor muscles can sometimes become too loose and weak.  This is a common problem for women because of pregnancy and childbirth. Pelvic floor dysfunction due to pregnancy and delivery can cause stress incontinence, urge incontinence and/or lower back pain. Extra pressure on the pelvic floor muscles can effect proper function, elasticity and strength of these bands of muscle tissue. Pelvic floor muscles work to support your womb, bladder and bowel. Strain on these muscles can result in pelvic floor dysfunction, bladder leakage, constipation, and sexual dysfunction. However, they can be successfully restrengthened with pelvic floor muscle training. Julie Janes, a pelvic floor physical therapist in Arlington, Va, says, “In France, women receive ten sessions [with a physical therapist] starting in the hospital after every vaginal delivery.” Many women seek pelvic floor physical therapy throughout the duration of their pregnancy and many achieve easier deliveries, faster recovery, and less pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms. Check out the article linked below in the Washington Post. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/a-hidden-epidemic-millions-of-women-suffer-pelvic-floor-disorders-silently/2015/12/22/f5997966-a6d5-11e5-b53d-972e2751f433_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.1ff44a6209c9

By Sabina Kapasi Pelvic Floor

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

The pelvic floor consists of several layers of muscles that cover the bottom of the pelvic cavity. These muscles have 3 distinct roles:

1) To support the pelvic organs, the bladder, uterus and colon within the pelvis
2) To assist in stopping and starting the flow of urine or passage of gas or stool
3) To aid in sexual appreciation.

When performing a proper contraction of the pelvic floor muscles, you should feel a sensation of pulling up and in. A functional stop test can be done to know if you are contracting the right muscles. This is done by trying to stop the flow of urine during flow. Attempt to completely stop the flow of urine by contracting these muscles. You should not hold your breath or contract the abdominals or other hip and leg musculature while contracting the pelvic floor. Take note of whether you can completely stop the flow of urine stream.

What can make the pelvic floor muscles weak:

*Childbirth
*Constipation
*Sustained coughing or sneezing
*Heavy incorrect lifting
*Obesity
*Hormones associated with menopause

Types of Dysfunction:
* Stress or Urge Urinary Incontinence
* Constipation or Bowel leakage
* Prolapse
* Painful intercourse or penetration
* Pelvic Pain
* Coccydynia

Pelvic floor therapy can help to provide conservative treatment options for both men and women who are experiencing any type of pelvic floor dysfunction and laxity. Appropriate exercise, muscle awareness, electrical stimulation, biofeedback and massage can reduce the symptoms that may occur with pelvic floor dysfunction.

For more information please contact His Therapy at 864-534-1780 or email at sabina@histherapy.net

By Sabina Kapasi Pelvic Floor, Physical Therapy

Pelvic Floor Therapy and Prostate Cancer

Men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer or have other medical problems related to their prostate may have some symptoms that a pelvic floor therapists can help them with. Many men suffer from urinary incontinence, urgency and retention issues and many more things that affect their way of life and every day function. Both pre and post therapy is very beneficial to these patients. Treatment may include:

1) Education on the anatomy of the pelvic floor and physiology of micturition process

2) Bladder retraining including assisting patients with proper bladder voiding schedules and avoiding bladder irritants

3) Education on proper posture and body mechanics

4) Manual cueing and biofeedback training on proper pelvic floor contractions

5) Biofeedback for pelvic floor training

6) Core stabilization exercises

Outcomes are fantastic! Patients gain the control they need of their bladder. Many men decrease the amount of pads they have to use secondary to leakage, wake up less at night to void, have less urgency and overall feel better with a more active daily lifestyle!

Please call His Therapy for more information. 864-534-1780 or visit our website for more information     www.histherapy.net