| Goal
Short term: Develop ability to coordinate a pelvic muscle
contraction with an event that makes you leak urine (e.g. coughing,
sneezing, running water, etc.) We call this coordination skill the
"Knack".
Long term: Establish the habit of using the "Knack"
to prevent both leakage and urgency symptoms.
Why
The key to not leaking is to use your pelvic muscles just in time
to squeeze the urethra shut. This well-timed muscle use is referred
to as the "Knack." The Knack closes your urethra at the
critical moment of potential urine loss.
A form of the Knack may occur spontaneously or by reflex for many
women. For others, particularly those who may be experiencing incontinence,
the reflex action of the muscles occurs too late or not at all.
The reflex can be replaced, however, by purposely contracting the
muscles.
How
Learning to use the pelvic muscles at the right time is a skill
like learning any other new muscle activity. At first it might be
hard, but the kinds of help that we can provide in this study will
help you become as adept as possible and will take into consideration
the condition of your own muscles.
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