Bladder
The bladder and the process of urinating is a complicated matter. This system can be interrupted in various ways such as:
- Physiological: Pelvic Floor Muscle (PFM) weakness and decreased coordination, PFM hypertonicity (tight muscles), fascial restrictions, scar tissue, poor abdominal pressure management, disc herniation, surgery and injury.
- Brainstem: The bladder communicates with the brainstem and CNS/PNS. Our bladders can receive information from our brainstem regarding our bathroom habits. If we go too often without the urge (“just in case” pee’s), our brainstem will create an urge sensation even if the bladder is not full. The opposite can happen as well. If we suppress the urge too often, our brainstem may decide to stop giving us the urge signal which can lead to overflow leakage. Environmental triggers are cues from our surroundings that can cause our brainstem to create an urge or bladder spasm (leakage) such as walking past a public restroom, “key in the door” syndrome, running water (shower, washing the dishes, brushing teeth), waking up at the same times at night and voiding just to get back to sleep. The good news is, as our bladders can learn bad habits, they can also unlearn them. We can retrain our system with education, awareness, and mindfulness!
- Bladder Irritants and Hormones: Certain types of beverages and foods can irritate the bladder lining causing a strong urge and bladder spasms/leakage. Hormone levels will effect the bladder's urge as well as communication with the bladder to the PFM’s.
- Psychosomatic: Pelvic floor muscles and the connective tissue surrounding the pelvic organs can tighten up in response to stress, anxiety, and trauma. This tension can cause bladder symptoms and discomfort if not addressed.
It is common to have one or more systems involved with bladder dysfunction and we will address them all! Here are some of the more common diagnoses related to bladder dysfunction:
- Stress urinary incontinence (SUI): loss of urine from a physical stressor such as cough, sneeze, laugh, jump, run, bending, lifting
- Urge urinary incontinence (UUI): loss of urine with a strong urge. Often due to a bladder or PFM spasm.
- Urgency: strong painful urge without a full bladder
- Frequency: increased trips to the bathroom
- Overactive Bladder (OAB)
- Nocturia (frequency and urgency at night)
- Painful bladder syndrome
- UTI like symptoms
- Dribbling, difficulty initiating stream, weak stream
Bowel
Our PFM’s and colorectal structures coordinate continence of the bowels as well as elimination. Tight PFMs, and poor coordination (contracting instead of lengthening) are often drivers for bowel dysfunction. We will also take a look at diet, posture on the toilet, massage techniques for GI motility, and breathing strategies for safe effective elimination.
- Constipation
- Bowel incontinence
- Gas incontinence
- Incomplete emptying
- Painful bowel movement
- Hemorrhoids
It is common to have one or more systems involved with bladder dysfunction and we will address them all! Here are some of the more common diagnoses related to bladder dysfunction:
- IBS
- Colitis
- Crohn's Disease
- Diverticulitis
- SIBO (small intestinal bacteria overgrowth)
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