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Understanding Urinary Urgency and Frequency: Causes, Connections, and How Pelvic Floor Therapy Can Help

If you find yourself needing to pee constantly, you’re not alone. Frequent urinary urgency can disrupt daily life, cause frustration, and interfere with restful sleep. While increased fluid intake can be a factor, underlying causes often involve the bladder’s anatomy, the role of the pelvic floor, and dysfunction in these systems.


The Anatomy of the Bladder and Its Connections

The bladder is a hollow, muscular organ in the pelvis, sitting behind the pubic bone. Key features include:

  • Structure: Resembles a balloon supported by ligaments and anchored to the pelvis.
  • Function: The detrusor muscle contracts to expel urine when the bladder is full.
  • Coordination: The pelvic floor muscles support the bladder’s base and control the release of urine through their “sphincteric” function, keeping the bladder outlet closed until you voluntarily relax them.

What Are the Pelvic Floor Muscles?

The pelvic floor muscles form a hammock-like support system at the pelvis’s base, including:

  • Key Muscles: Pubococcygeus, puborectalis, and iliococcygeus, part of the levator ani group.
  • Primary Functions (The 5 S’s):
    • Support of pelvic organs (bladder, uterus, and rectum).
    • Sphincteric control of urination and defecation.
    • Sexual function, enhancing arousal and sensation.
    • Stability for the pelvis and lower back.
    • Sump Pump function, aiding pelvic circulation and lymphatic drainage.

Hypertonic Pelvic Floor Muscles: A Hidden Cause of Urinary Urgency

When pelvic floor muscles are too tight or tense (hypertonic), they can:

  • Press on the bladder, sending false urgency signals to the brain.
  • Impair relaxation, making it hard to fully empty the bladder.
  • Cause retention, leading to frequent urges due to residual urine.
  • Disrupt urethral closure, potentially causing leaks or difficulty emptying.

How Pelvic Floor Therapy Can Help

Pelvic floor therapy addresses hypertonicity and helps restore balance to urinary function.

What You Can Expect

  1. Comprehensive Assessment:
    • Review of medical history, urinary habits, and a physical evaluation of the pelvic floor, abdomen, hips, and lower back.
  2. Manual Therapy:
    • Gentle techniques to release tight muscles, involving external or internal work based on your comfort level.
  3. Biofeedback and Neuromuscular Retraining:
    • Tools to increase awareness and control of the pelvic floor muscles.
  4. Bladder Training Techniques:
    • Gradual adjustments to increase the time between bathroom visits, reducing urgency over time.
  5. Lifestyle and Habit Modifications:
    • Advice on fluid intake, diet, and avoiding irritants like caffeine and acidic foods.
  6. Breathing and Relaxation Exercises:
    • Techniques to manage breathing and calm the nervous system, reducing pelvic floor tension.

Take Control of Your Urinary Health

If frequent or urgent urination is disrupting your life, pelvic floor dysfunction might be the underlying cause. A pelvic floor physical therapist can assess your symptoms, address muscle imbalances, and help you regain control of your urinary health.

Reach out to the Pelvic Health Center in Madison, NJ, to schedule an evaluation and treatment!
Call us at 908-443-9880 or email us at receptionmadison@pelvichealthnj.com.

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