Yes, Physical Therapy for Urinary Incontinence is a Thing

Urinary Incontinence Under the Radar: Part 1

November is Bladder Health Awareness month, and Femina PT would like to shine light on something that tends to go understated, unaddressed, brushed off as “normal”: urinary incontinence. This blog series focuses on the various effects that urinary incontinence (or UI) leaves on an individual’s life, and how conservative physical therapy treatment can help combat them. Lucky for you, reader, we love to talk about it.

The story goes like this - urinary incontinence is thought to be something expected with getting older, or something that occurs during pregnancy or as a result of delivery. Because of the embarrassment and shame that surrounds such issues, patients often don’t share these problems with their provider. Or worse, if they do share, they may be dismissed as their symptoms being a normal consequence of their stage of life. There is also a lack of awareness for conservative treatments such as pelvic floor physical therapy for these issues. Patients may fear surgery, medication, routine visits, and avoid talking about it all together. However, pelvic floor physical therapy for urinary incontinence can save patients time, money, and psychological distress. The numbers speak for themselves. Up to 45% of adults with bladder control problems fail to seek care.

Debbie Dy, PT, DPT

Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
Director of Clinical Education

Debbie (she/her/hers) earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine in Miami FL, and her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology from the University of Illinois in Chicago. Upon graduating with her DPT, she was accepted into the Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency at the University of Miami where she began working towards becoming a specialist in orthopedic physical therapy. Debbie received her distinction as a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist in June 2022, a distinguished honor that is shared by less than 10% of licensed physical therapists in the United States.

I started seeing Heather to treat my Interstitial Cystitis in November 2016. At this time, I was extremely miserable, in constant pain, and felt as though no one was listening or understood what was going on with my body. I have just finished my last appointment and I can honestly say that my life has completely changed for the better because of Heather and her team of PTs! I live almost completely pain free, and when I do have flare ups, I am able to treat them at home on my own. I am so grateful that this office was recommended to me a honestly cannot recommend them enough!