Does pelvic floor physiotherapy treat stress urinary incontinence?

Stress urinary incontinence is leakage with actions such as coughing, sneezing, lifting, running or jumping. A physiotherapist checks whether the pelvic floor can contract, hold and release at the right time. Treatment may use supervised exercises, breathing coordination, movement retraining and bladder habits. Some people need strengthening; others need help releasing tight muscles before strengthening is useful. Progress is usually judged by fewer leaks, better control during triggers and greater confidence with activity. Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy can be tailored after an assessment.

Keep a brief record of when leakage happens and what you were doing, then take it to an appointment. Learn the correct contraction rather than tightening the abdomen, buttocks or thighs. Use the pelvic floor before a known trigger such as a cough or lift, and increase exercise gradually. Do not cut fluids drastically, as concentrated urine can irritate the bladder.

Arrange medical assessment for new leakage with burning urine, blood, fever, back pain or difficulty passing urine. Seek urgent help for sudden loss of bladder control with leg weakness, numbness around the saddle area or severe back pain. Leakage with constant pelvic pain also deserves prompt review.

Ask whether your leakage pattern is stress incontinence, how to perform a pelvic floor contraction, when to expect a review, and which options are available if physiotherapy does not provide enough control.