Finding the energy, time and mental fortitude to go for a run postpartum isn't easy. But it can be downright devastating to find yourself leaking pee as you run down the street!
This something called stress incontinence, and can be damaging to our self esteem and ability to participate in physical activity.
And so many women deal with this problem. In fact, 55% of postpartum women experience stress incontinence, and the stats don't improve with age..
But it's not just postpartum moms, but women of all ages, and men too!
The good news is pelvic floor physical therapy is here to help.
Let's dive into why you might find yourself in this situation.
Stress Incontinence Postpartum
Stress Incontinence is the term used to describe pee leaks that occur with laughing, coughing, jumping or sneezing. This term is used because all of these activities place force, or stress, through the core system, which is not handled well and then results in pee leaks.
The causes for stress incontinence during pregnancy and the postpartum period can be complex. Yes, it can be due to weakness in the pelvic floor, especially if you have dealt with a tear.
But it can also have quite a lot to do with your abdominal wall, breathing patterns, and hip stability!
Pelvic floor physical therapy can help figure out the underlying why of your issue, which can vary from woman to woman.
Causes For Stress Incontinence In Athletes
Leaking urine during athletics is a surprisingly common problem in all ages of women, including in adolescents. The cause can be complex and is typically not resolved by simply doing kegels to strengthen the pelvic floor.
I often see a tight pelvic floor in female athletes suffering from this issue. The pelvic floor will compensate for breakdowns in the core system, including breathing, posture and abdominal wall activation, and become overly-tense as a result. This can lead to pee leaks.
The pelvic floor may also be stressed due to decreased hip stability and appropriate hip muscle activation. This can also result in pee leaks.
Healing Pee Leaks with Running
The first step in healing stress incontinence comes from a pelvic (vaginal) exam.
It's important for your pelvic floor physical therapist to assess the muscles directly responsible for controlling urine to find out why they are struggling to do their job.
Are they overworking or underworking? We first have to answer this question.
Only from there can we begin to investigate how to fix it. Often times we have to peel back some layers, including abdominal wall activation, posture, and hip stability in order to correct the pee leaks.
Conclusion
Leaking pee is very common but never normal. You do not have to live with it.
Do not push through your pee leaks as your body is communicating something to you!
Instead, make sure you book a session with your pelvic floor PT to heal your pee leaks today.
Click here to schedule with us!
Not local to Albuquerque? You can still get help. Click here for my online Pelvic Health Coaching Program!
Want to learn more about your pelvic floor or find out if pelvic floor physical therapy is for you? Make sure you check out our blog The Ultimate Guide to Know If Pelvic Floor PT is For You.
References
Gao J, Liu X, Zuo Y, Li X. Risk factors of postpartum stress urinary incontinence in primiparas: What should we care. Medicine (Baltimore). 2021 May 21;100(20):e25796. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000025796. PMID: 34011042; PMCID: PMC8137028.