Continence Solutions
Continence Solutions is a comprehensive interdisciplinary program for improving continence in patients in both inpatient and outpatient settings provided by Occupational and/or Physical Therapists.
Urinary incontinence impacts more than 25 million men and women and can lead to falls, fatigue, poor skin integrity, depression, social isolation and poor quality of life. Urinary incontinence is not a normal part of aging and it can be improved.
What is urinary incontinence? Simply put, urinary incontinence is any involuntary loss of urine. There are different types, including the following:
Stress Incontinence
Stress incontinence occurs during physical activities such as sneezing, coughing, laughing or lifting objects.
Urge Incontinence
Urge incontinence occurs when there is a sudden, compelling urge to urinate and the person is unable to make it to the bathroom on time.
Mixed Incontinence
Mixed incontinence is a combination of both stress and urge incontinence.
Functional Incontinence
Functional incontinence may occur when a person has a physical impairment such as poor strength, coordination or balance, making it difficult to transfer or manage their clothing independently and safely. Cognitive impairments and communication deficits can also impact continence.
The goal of Continence Solutions is to identify the cause and type of incontinence and provide personalized treatments.
Occupational Therapists and Physical Therapists work together to create an individualized plan of care, including the following:
- Strengthening
- Balance
- Transfer and gait training
- Help with activities of daily living
- Environmental adaptations
- Cognitive assessments
In addition, treatment may include specific exercises and education on lifestyle/diet changes and behavioral approaches to improve continence. Patient and caregiver education is key to supporting and maintaining continence.
