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PT for Stress Urinary Incontinence

Physical Therapist Crystal Okenkpu talks about PT for stress urinary incontinence

Physical Therapist Crystal Okenkpu talks about PT for stress urinary incontinence

Physical therapist Crystal Okenkpu treats patients with stress urinary incontinence, or SUI. Stress urinary incontinence is a urologic condition that affects twice as many women as men, but both genders deal with this issue. The symptoms are often annoying and embarrassing. SUI causes involuntary leakage of urine due to increased pressure, stress, or strain on the bladder. Increased pressure can be caused by laughing, coughing, sneezing, exercising, jumping, or lifting heavy objects. When our Houston urologists diagnose this condition, they often recommend PT for stress urinary incontinence.

What causes SUI?

When pelvic floor support systems, including muscles, nerves and connective tissue, get weak, they cannot properly support the bladder, causing urine leakage. The pelvic floor gets weak for a variety of reasons including vaginal childbirth, pelvic organ prolapse, hysterectomies and menopause in women. For men, prostate surgery, prostate conditions or cancer can create problems. Both men and women can also develop SUI if they are obese, diabetic, take certain medications or have health problems that cause chronic coughing.

How does PT for stress urinary incontinence help patients?

Pelvic floor physical therapy strengthens weakened pelvic floor muscles, core muscles, and hip muscles. Exercise is a vital part of PT for stress urinary incontinence. After physical therapist Crystal Okenkpu receives an evaluation from our Houston urologists, she performs her own examination, identifying areas of concern. After that, she designs a specialized program of exercises, including proper Kegel exercises, for each patient. Dr. Okenkpu may also recommend other treatments such as massage therapy, biofeedback or electrical stimulation. For example, biofeedback is a helpful tool for both therapists and patients. “Biofeedback therapy provides real-time visual feedback on a patient’s pelvic floor muscle activity using internal or external sensors. It detects both overactive and underactive pelvic floor muscles which can help me to further tailor a patient’s plan and care.”

What are patients’ concerns about pelvic floor physical therapy?

Physical therapist Crystal Okenkpu understands that the idea of specialized physical therapy may make some patients nervous and uncomfortable. She says, “Discussing the pelvic floor can be unfamiliar and at times uncomfortable. However, once patients overcome these barriers, most of them leave pelvic floor physical therapy feeling empowered. They also have a better understanding of their condition and are grateful for the care they received.”

Crystal Okenkpu DPT works closely with our Houston urologists to treat SUI

Our team is pleased to be able to offer Dr. Okenkpu’s valuable services to patients. PT for stress urinary incontinence is highly effective. According to Crystal Okenkpu, “Pelvic floor physical therapy is a highly evidence-based intervention that yields positive patient outcomes that result in improved quality of life and long-term benefits for a healthy functioning pelvic floor.” For more information, contact us or call (713) 351-5070.

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