September is Dementia Awareness Month. Caregiving and managing incontinence is further complicated if the person is affected by dementia. Along with practical difficulties such the person with dementia having problems “holding on”, finding the toilet, or even being aware they need to pass urine or emtpy their bowels, depression, stress or anxiety, often associated with dementia, can exaccerbate existing incontinence problems.

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After a stroke, bladder or bowel control problems that arise may be due to a number of reasons including muscle weakness, changed sensations, difficulty responding to the urge to go, difficulty dressing or undressing, difficulties communicating, changes in eating and drinking habits, and changes to vision.

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We are now holding pump pilates for men on Tuesdays 8:30am-9:30am & Friday 10:00am-11:00am!

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On the surface, bladder leakage in young women seems a trivial matter, but if it restricts a woman’s ability to take part in normal everyday activities, it can have  more serious consequences. Research from the University of Adelaide (Avery et al. 2013) found that younger women’s mental health was often hit hard by urinary incontinence, while older women tended to be more resilient and accepting of the condition. This finding, according to author Jodie Avery, might be due to the (mistaken) assumption by many that incontinence was an older woman’s condition. The study found that key issues for younger women affected by incontinence were family, sexual relationships, sport and leisure activities. Despite common beliefs, more than half the women in Australia living with incontinence are aged 50 years and under. Incontinence, one of Australia’s biggest health issues, is more prevalent than asthma (2 million), anxiety disorders (2.3 million) and arthritis (3.1 million), with 4.8 million, or one in four Australians over the age of 15, affected (Deloitte, 2011). Ms Avery’s study showed that 20 per cent of the incontinent population had depression, much higher than the rest of the population (estimated at between 0.8 and 9.6 per cent by the World Health Organisation). She said GPs and other health professionals needed to be aware that if their patient was affected by incontinence, the condition was often linked with depression, which needed to be treated to increase their quality of life. Like depression, there is still a stigma attached to incontinence, with only about 70 per cent of people affected seeking professional help – this, despite the fact that incontinence is preventable and easily treated in most cases. CEO of The Continence Foundation of Australia Rowan Cockerell said there was much that could be done to prevent and manage incontinence. “When you consider it can impact a person psychologically as well as physically, it’s even more important people acquire good bladder and bowel health practices,” Ms Cockerell said. In the majority of cases, preventing incontinence was simply a case of protecting the pelvic floor, she said. “Avoid activities that stretch your pelvic floor or force you to push down on it – like heavy lifting, high impact sports, straining on the toilet due to constipation, chronic coughing or gaining excessive weight. “And of course, doing your pelvic floor exercises every day will strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which, like any other muscles, can be made stronger with regular exercise.” She also acknowledged the important role exercise played in general health and wellbeing, and directed readers to the pelvicfloorfirst.org.auwebsite, which provides information on pelvic floor-safe exercises.

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You are invited to join our FREE outdoor exercise class for mums or any women wanting to exercise with a trained professional; prams and bubs welcome. This is also a great way to meet other mums with your bub in tow! When: Every Friday morning 9am- 9.45am Where: Meet at Mornington Peninsula Family Physiotherapy- 130 Tanti Ave, Mornington- plenty of free street parking (we ask you reserve the clinic parking for patients) What is involved: Our Exercise Class is led by one of our specialist physiotherapist,  starting with a morning power walk and advancing into cardio and toning, you will get a chance to chat about post natal recovery as well as some gentle strengthening & stretching exercises to finish What do I bring: Wear your walking shoes, comfortable exercise clothing and sunscreen/ hat; bring a bottle of water, your stroller & bubs How much: The Exercise Group is completely FREE To register your attendance or any further information please contact our friendly receptionists at M.P.F.P 5976 4944  

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