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Outpatient Rehabilitation
Incontinence & Women's Health
More Incontinence and Women's Health Info... ---------------------- Information about Incontinence Treatment Contacts

Incontinence
Therapists at Saint Alphonsus Rehabilitation Services used specialized treatment methods and strategies including biofeedback to decrease or eliminate episodes of incontinence. Our clinical outcomes prove that therapy works for reducing and/or resolving incontinence. See helpful links in the dropdown menu at the top of this page for more information about incontinence and related treatment.

Women’s Health
The Women’s Health Services at STARS can help ease the pain and suffering of common women’s health issues that include:

• Pregnancy-Related Pain
  • neck/upper back pain
  • low back pain
  • arm tingling
  • leg pain
  • pelvic pain
• Pelvic floor issues
  • Incontinence
• Bowel issues
• Pelvic floor pain
• Pain with intercourse
• Pain with menstruation
• Interstitial Cystitis (bladder inflammation/irritation)
• Breast Cancer Lymphedema
• Osteoporosis
• Arthritis
• Bladder Health

Information about Incontinence

What is Bladder/Bowel Incontinence?

• Incontinence is the term used for involuntary loss of urine or fecal matter.
• Incontinence is a common problem that affects males and females alike.
• You do not need to feel embarrassed, isolated, or without hope if you struggle with incontinence.
• Saint Alphonsus Rehabilitation Services (STARS) has therapists who specialize in treating these difficulties.

Bladder Incontinence Has Several Forms

• Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI):
  • Urine loss due to increased abdominal pressure.
  • Caused by coughing, sneezing, lifting, etc.
• Urge Urinary Incontinence (UUI):
  • Urine loss directly or shortly after the urge to go to the bathroom is present.
  • May occur when you are feeling cold, hearing water running, etc.
  • Results in rushing to the bathroom to avoid leaking.
• Mixed Urinary Incontinence (MUI):
  • Combination of both Stress (SUI) and Urge (UUI) symptoms.
  • Some women have symptoms of SUI and later develop UUI. Bowel Incontinence symptoms can follow similar patterns as those described with Urinary Incontinence.

Bowel problems such as frequent constipation can also be treated.

Is Incontinence Common?

• Incontinence affects up to 30% of women between the ages of 15 and 64 and is also common in men.
• Up to 25% of healthy adults have problems with urinary incontinence.
• Factors such as childbirth, abdominal surgeries and prostate health can lead to poor bladder/bowel health.
• Although urinary incontinence can affect women of any age, SUI typically affects most women in mid-life (between the ages of 40 and 69)
• Both UUI and MUI become more prevalent with age.

Treatment

How Can Physical Therapy Help?

• Physical therapists at STARS use specialized treatment methods and strategies including biofeedback to decrease or eliminate episodes of incontinence.
• Our clinical outcomes prove that physical therapy works for reducing and/or resolving incontinence.

What is Biofeedback?
Biofeedback is a pain-free treatment that takes place in a private room. The patient relaxes in a recliner chair and watches a color screen that shows pelvic muscle (PFM) activity. The patient remains clothed at all times. Biofeedback can help up to 90% of people who have problems with bladder or bowel control, including men, women, and children.

Contacts
How Do I Find A Physical Therapist?

• First speak to your doctor regarding your symptoms.
• Ask for a referral to a physical therapist at Saint Alphonsus Rehabilitation Services (STARS).
• Your doctor may ask you questions regarding your symptoms to determine if physical therapy is right for you.
• Most insurance plans cover physical therapy for incontinence if you have a referral from your doctor.

Contact Us
If you have any questions regarding physical therapy for bowel or bladder incontinence please call STARS for more information:

Marcy Mansor-Jess, MPT
Phone: 367-8593

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