In this short, Dr. Ivan Bracic, DC, clinical director at Novaré Injury Care and Rehab in Fort Myers, explains that leaking a little when you sneeze, laugh or cough comes from a weakened pelvic floor, not from the sneeze itself. He talks about building pelvic floor and core strength, and why it is worth getting checked when you first notice it. If you are dealing with leaks, a doctor or pelvic floor physical therapist can help you find the right plan.
Read the full guide: Pelvic Floor Exercises for Bladder Leaks: 5 Moves to Start →
Video Transcript
Most people don't understand that when you pee because of sneezing and laughing, it's not the sneezing and laughing. It's a weakened pelvic floor. It's a weakened bladder control. And what you have to understand is that this is a precursor for a more severe condition that's just coming down the road.
We really need to address the pelvic floor strength. We need to address the core muscles of the pelvic floor. And when we can get that under control, that symptom, that little leakage that occurs when you sneeze, laugh, cough, that will dissipate when you address the problem, which is pelvic floor and bladder weakness.
Not only that, what really occurs is that this is setting you up for further challenges down the road. And if a woman decides to have another child, it's only going to get worse.
I can't tell you how many of my patients come in and say, "I've been wearing pads ever since I had my first child." This could have been remedied had they sought care after noticing it the first time.
Read the full guide on pelvic floor exercises for bladder leaks →