When Kegels Aren't Enough To Fix Bladder Leakage

For bladder leakage and other pelvic floor issues, most of us have only heard of kegels to help. That is often the only exercise that is recommended, but kegels aren’t always the answer to fix bladder leakage. Often the pelvic floor muscles are actually tight and not weak.

Other times it is just poor bladder habits and there is no weakness of the pelvic floor muscles.

Let me explain two scenarios that I see in my patients in the clinic where kegels are not the answer.

Two types of bladder leakage that often don’ t get better with kegels.

1.      Stress urinary incontinence

2. Urinary frequency and urgency

Stress Incontinence

This is leakage with physical stress like exercise, coughing or sneezing

Kegels are not usually enough to overcome this amount of pressure.

Very often I find in these patients that they actually have pelvic floor muscle tightness, not weakness. There can be both but often if we resolve the tightness then the weakness will also improve, because now the entire muscle can function properly.

If people leak with exercise, often there is a weakness or imbalance in the bigger muscles of the legs, glutes or hips. No amount of kegel is going to make up for the weakness of one of those muscles

Sometimes we have to work the the athletic ability, such as how people land when they jump or their running form, or their breathing pattern with lifting weights. These all matter and won’t be overcome by doing more kegels.  These pressures are way more than any amount of kegeling.

Urinary frequency/urgency

a.      For people who go to the bathroom a lot, like always feel like they need to go, often it is just poor habits over time that creep up on them and then become problematic.

b.      In the clinic when I see these people, very often when we test their pelvic floor muscles, they aren’t weak or tight, and so it has nothing to do with kegels. They just need to work on better bladder habits like not going at every single urge, etc.

There is an entire protocol for this that is very successful. I created an online course for this because for most of these patients they don't need kegels or any hands on therapy, they need to focus on better bladder habits.

Conclusion:

If you have tried kegels for your bladder leakage and it isn't working, see a pelvic floor therapist who can assess for more than just kegels. You can also check out a free introductory class that is part of my online bladder course. In the free introductory class you will learn 3 things you can do besides kegels to help your bladder leakage. You can also see me in person or virtually. There is no pelvic exam on virtual visits, but like I said in this post, it often is about other things we can work on that aren't directly pelvic floor related.

Mostly I want you to know that sometimes it isn't about kegels and there are other things to try, so don't feel like you are stuck with bladder leakage forever. There is help!