Bladder Control: Stress Incontinence and Pelvic Floor Muscle Training

Course overview

Urinary incontinence (UI) is a worldwide problem associated with negative rehabilitation outcomes for adults with a wide range of orthopedic and neurologic diagnoses and across the spectrum of rehabilitation settings. Physical and occupational therapists play an important if not critical role in identifying and treating bladder control problems, yet they frequently fail to identify UI or provide recommended interventions. This course will describe the problem of stress incontinence using a patient case study. The functional anatomy of the pelvic floor will be explained, and the exercise physiology of pelvic floor muscle training will be discussed. Participants will learn basic evaluation and non-invasive interventions to improve pelvic floor muscle function and bladder control to improve rehabilitation outcomes.