Skip to Content

Urge Incontinence

Urine incontinence in men is the sudden feeling of needing to urinate, followed by the inability to hold it in, resulting in the involuntary release of urine. Urge incontinence is also referred to as having an overactive bladder. Physiotherapy can help to significantly reduce symptoms that are associated with urge incontinence.

 

What is Urge Incontinence?

Bladder control and a person’s ability to store urine depend on the function of the urinary tract, kidneys and nervous system. A person is continually collecting urine in the bladder after it has travelled from the kidneys. The bladder is a muscle (detrusor) and expands as it fills with urine. As the bladder fills up it is kept closed by a valve called the sphincter. The sphincter, along with the detrusor muscle, help control the flow of urine out of the body. The nervous system allows the bladder to continue to fill and tells you when you need to urinate. The detrusor muscle needs to contract in order to force urine out of the bladder. When the bladder is full, part of the brain helps prevent bladder contraction so that urination can be delayed until you are ready to use the bathroom.

Urge incontinence in men is the strong, sudden need to urinate due to uncontrolled bladder spasms of contractions. An overactive bladder results in involuntary bladder muscle contractions which are caused by bladder irritation or problems in the nervous system.

 

What causes urge incontinence in men?

Urge incontinence in men may be caused by number of reasons including:

  • Infection
  • Bladder cancer
  • Bladder inflammation
  • Bladder outlet obstruction
  • Bladder stones
  • Neurological diseases – such as Parkinsons or Multiple Sclerosis
  • Neurological injury – such as spinal cord injury or Stroke
  • Prostate enlargement or cancer
  • Prostate surgery or other surgery to the area around the bladder
  • Weakness in pelvic floor muscles / abdominal muscles.

 

Symptoms

Men who are experiencing urge incontinence are likely to have symptoms such as;

  • Involuntary release of urine
  • Regular urination at any time of day or night
  • A sudden urgent need to pass urine.

If you suffer from urge incontinence, there are a number of treatment options that aim to reduce any of your current symptoms. You may be offered several medical interventions including medication and diet advice. Additionally, physiotherapy has shown to provide urge incontinence sufferers with significant relief from problems associated with the condition.

 

Physiotherapy

If you suffer from stress incontinence then we will work with you in a physiotherapy programme that will include treatment methods which focus on minimising the problems that you are experiencing. Treatment methods include:

  • Strengthening exercises for the pelvic floor muscles and abdominal muscles
  • Bladder training to help the bladder return to normal function
  • Electrical stimulation may also be used to improve muscle function
  • Instruction and provision of a home exercise programme to improve pelvic floor function
  • Instructions on how to control pelvic floor and abdominal muscles during coughing, sneezing and laughing etc.
  • Breathing control and relaxation exercises
  • Education on how to make lifestyle changes that may affect the bladder.
magnifiercross linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram