|
|
 For over 5 years I have wondered about the potential benefits of massage for bowel & bladder problems. Not just for constipation but for all problems of this nature.
I knew that massage had a well-documented positive aspect on our stress levels and overall well-being. However, research related to bowel & bladder problems was limited. You will certainly find opinion online but I was looking for competent medical research.
We now have that research with the peer-reviewed publication of research from Kristina Lämås, a senior lecturer in the department of nursing at Umeå University, Sweden.
Kristina’s double-blind study involved 60 people with constipation. Half received 15 minutes of abdominal and hand massage a day, five days a week for eight weeks, in addition to prescribed laxatives. The rest received only prescribed laxatives.
The results of the study showed that the group that received abdominal massage used had reduced abdominal pain, increased bowel movements and improved quality of life compared with laxative use alone.
The group also reported that abdominal massage is a pleasant treatment that should be considered in constipation management.
It makes sense that abdominal massage can have benefits for those suffering from constipation. However, could it be useful in the treatment of other bowel & bladder problems?
Certainly, massage has proven itself to be useful in the management of pain or discomfort. It might be worthwhile including a regular massage into your health routine. Especially, as this study shows, massage is a pleasant experience.
In a time when most medical treatments are considered unpleasant perhaps the fact we like massage is another of its great strengths.
 Uriwell the portable, unisex, flexible urinal
Incontinence is one of the most stressful problems that can be suffered by a human being. This is due to a number of factors like embarrassment and unwillingness to speak to a friend or professional. Yet most incontinence problems can be easily managed and overcome with a little knowledge. So where should you go for unbiased advice you can trust?
The answer depends on where you live. This article will point you in the right direction if you live in the United States and the European Union. All organisations are non-profit and pride themselves on providing objective, peer-reviewed advice.
For the EU we’ll look at the UK, Germany & France and provide you with an overview approach for other countries.
In the United Kingdom, Disabled Living UK has been providing this knowledge free for over 110 years & they continue this tradition by being an excellent resource for anyone regardless of location, age, and gender or type problem.
In Germany you should visit the site for Die Deutsche Kontinenz Gesellschaft e. V.. Like its sister non-profit organisations in other countries you will find unbiased information on all types of continence problems and how best to manage them. Their website is less personal, taking a more academic approach than their UK counterparts. However it is easy to use & navigate. Alternatively you can visit the excellent Women’s Health Coalition e.V. website. They provide information for female incontinence in Germany as well as on other female health issues.
In France, the Association d’Aide aux Personnes Incontinentes have developed a user-friendly and encyclopaedic website that should be the first port of call. Information & recommendations are clearly explained.
If you live in the United States I recommend the National Association For Continence. They are a national, private, non-profit organisation dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with incontinence, voiding dysfunction, and related pelvic floor disorders. Their objective is to be the leading source for public education and advocacy about the causes, prevention, diagnosis, treatments, and management alternatives for incontinence. They certainly achieve this in both English & Spanish. In fact, regardless of where you are I recommend visiting this site to research your particular incontinence issue. It is so easy to use & provides practical explanation & advice.
These are just a few of the organisations available to you internationally. The International Continence Society website has a full list of similar organisations in most countries. You should never feel that you need to suffer in silence. If you can surf the web then you have access to the best incontinence information from around the world & it is very likely you’ll identify a local trusted organisation to help you.
Links to key organisations:
FRANCE
Association d’Aide aux Personnes Incontinentes www.aapi.asso.fr
Femmes Pour Toujours www.femsante.com
GERMANY
Deutsche Kontinenz Gesellschaft e.V. www.gih.de
Women’s Health Coalition http://www.w-h-c.de
UNITED KINGDOM
Disabled Living UK http://www.disabledliving.co.uk
USA
National Association for Continence www.nafc.org/
Other
International Painful Bladder Foundation (IPBF) www.painful-bladder.org
World Federation of Incontinent Patients (WPIF) www.wfip.org
 Incostress controls female stress incontinence Isn’t it wonderful to think that 5,000 years ago there was a deep understanding of the importance of pelvic floor health for women & men? To many of us the term ‘Kegel exercises’ sounds modern and new-fangled. But it might reassure you to know that these exercises clearly evolved from the tradition of yoga 5 millenniums ago.
To explain this link let’s review the instructions for Kegel exercise. They are a simple & easy routine for you to try and are recommended for all women to prevent many bladder problems. They are also highly recommended when you suffer from Stress Incontinence. The basic instructions are as follows:
- Imagine trying to stop wind escaping from your anus. You will have to squeeze the muscle just above the entrance to the anus. You should feel some movement in the muscle. Do not move your buttocks or legs.
- At the same time imagine yo are trying to stop a stream of urine. You will notice you are using slightly different pelvic floor muscles to the first exercise (ones nearer the front).
- If you are not sure that you are exercising the right muscles, put a couple of fingers into your vagina. You should feel a gentle squeeze when doing the exercises.
All experts – continence nurses & doctors and physiotherapists – agree that healthy pelvic floor muscles are the single most important influence in overcoming stress incontinence. The routine can be done whenever suits you – whether lying in bed first thing in the morning or driving to work or simply during those few calm moments each evening.
Now compare the above to the instructions for the same muscles in yoga.
Exhale and engage the pelvic floor, drawing it upwards towards your navel. If you don’t know how to access the pelvic floor, think of it as the space between the pubic bone and the tailbone. Initially you may need to contract and hold the muscles around the anus and genitals, but really what you want is to isolate and draw up the perineum, which is between the anus and genitals.
This is called the Root lock or Mulabhanda (Pronounced Moola Baun-da) and if you followed the instructions you will have noticed that exactly the same muscles were engaged. And you are on the road to a healthy pelvic floor.
Whilst doing your Kegel exercises will help you should consider introducing a broader exercise programme into your life. Any kind of physical exercise that engages your core will help strengthen your pelvic muscles, but Pilates and yoga in particular are great inner toners. Both focus on building a firm core or root. They also use deep breathing and mindful movement to reconnect the brain to the body. Thus you will find over time a deepening improvement in your overall health & well-being.
Yoga also increases body awareness, helping beginners to become more conscious of their bodies. Yoga increases your energy and endurance, strengthens your core.
In fact even stress and depression can be eliminated with regular Yoga sessions. This is particularly important as the embarrassment caused by Female Stress Incontinence is itself a psychological stress.
Yoga movements allow the muscles to stretch and strengthen whilst helping them repair faster and bounce back from injury. This is key to helping with Female Stress Incontinence. Yoga poses can strengthen the important muscles that support the bladder, rectum, uterus and vagina.
Remember to be gentle with your body. You can prevent Stress Incontinence with regular exercising and perhaps you should consider attending a Pilates or gentle yoga class. You will find this beneficial for toning muscles all over and in the long term fundamentally improve the quality of your life.
If you are concerned about stress incontinence or any other health issue please do discuss with your doctor. You will benefit by simply talking about this problem & may find that solutions are within your easy reach.
- Incostress controls female stress incontinence
Stress incontinence – peeing when you laugh, cough, sneeze or any other physical exertion – has been called ‘The Silent Epidemic’ as so many suffer from it and do not seek advice from friends, family or medical professionals.
It incredible to think that 200 million people worldwide suffer from the problem according to the US National Association For Continence. One in four women over the age of 18 experience episodes of urinary incontinence showing that you don’t have to be senior or have given birth to be part of The Silent Epidemic.
Recent research from the University of South Australia indicates that physiotherapy has proven to be very effective in treating stress incontinence in about 80 per cent of cases.
According to PhD physiotherapy student Trish Neumann “For a long time stress incontinence was treated by surgical procedures without going through physiotherapy as a first option, but the outcomes of surgery have not always been positive with success rates as low as 50 to 60 per cent…This led to recommendations that physiotherapy be tried first…”
This has been the most comprehensive study ever undertaken in Australia involving 274 women with stress incontinence. Aged between 23 to 77 years, the women were given pelvic floor muscle training by specialist continence physiotherapists in 35 centres across Australia.
The study showed that expert guidance from a specially trained continence physiotherapist in the correct pelvic floor exercise technique is needed to ensure success. In the study the training was completed in an average of five treatments over several months. Once they had the correct technique they completed the exercises at home.
After one year about 80 per cent of the women were either cured or significantly improved and were happy with the outcome. Which indicates a remarkable success rate.
Exercising the pelvic floor correctly is the critical activity in the treatment of urinary incontinence. Regardless of your age, once the pelvic floor muscles have been strengthened they will automatically control urine.
The exercise routine takes very little time and can be done at times convenient to you. You should try to build it into your daily activities – working at your desk, driving or walking, watching TV are all suitable times.
A major benefit is that even this easy & convenient exercise routine can overcome the understandable disincentive to exercise. Once you can control your urine you can become more active, increase your fitness, feel better about yourself, it is a virtuous circle.
This is the key to your long-term success, building the pelvic floor exercises routine into your daily life. It will encourage you to improve your general fitness.
It is important to remember that men, who can also suffer from Stress Incontinence, also benefit from pelvic floor muscle training.
So the next time you go to your GP about stress incontinence, please suggest that you are referred for physiotherapy first as it has been proven to be effective.
 Uriwell, portable, flexible, unisex urinal Building on the success of the previous events the next PromoCon Continence Symposium is scheduled for Tuesday 15th March 2011 .
This one day event will include a range of lectures, workshops & breakfast symposiums on a wide variety of continence topics. An extensive exhibition will accompany the event.
Venue: Bolton Arena, Middlebrook, Horwich. Greater Manchester
(5 minutes from junction 6, M61)
The symposium will be charge at a nominal fee of just £10 to cover refreshments and administration.
About PromoCon
PromoCon provides a national service, working as part of Disabled Living, Manchester to improve the life for all people with bladder or bowel problems by offering product information, advice and practical solutions to both professionals and the general public.
PromoCon employs a multidisciplinary team of people who work with other services and organizations to develop improvements for people who have continence difficulties.
What is the postmenopause?
This is the stage of every woman’s life that follows the menopause, or her last menstrual period. A woman is definitely postmenopausal when she has not had a period for at least a year.
Most women in the UK go through the menopausal transition between the ages of 45 and 55, with the average age of the last menstrual period being about 52. After the menopause the ovaries cease to produce the main female hormone, oestrogen, and its absence can produce a wide range of symptoms.
In the short-term many women experience hot flushes and night sweats and many emotional changes. In the long-term lack of oestrogen may predispose many women to osteoporosis. Most women are aware of these problems, and are able to openly discuss them with their healthcare providers and feel comfortable enough to debate with their friends and family as to what approach they will choose when coping with these symptoms.
“Urogenital” problems
Many women also experience urogenital problems such as vaginal discomfort and urinary incontinence in the years after the menopause, but most find it hard to admit to these symptoms even with their closest friends, let alone to ask their doctor or nurse for help. Most women decide to “pad-up and put up” and suffer in silence, rather than face the embarrassment of discussing this and finding out if anything can be done to help. Women are often unaware of how common and normal these problems are and what help is available to them. Medical terminology for the array of problems faced by so many women is confusing and the aim of the following information is to try to explain some of the “urogenital” problems of the postmenopause.
Urogenital atrophy – “Vaginal atrophy”
Vaginal dryness, soreness and painful sex Without the production of oestrogen by the ovaries, the skin and support tissues of the vulva (“lips”) and vagina become thin and less elastic. This is an inevitable consequence of the menopause and the majority of women will experience some form of symptoms. Vaginal dryness is commonly the first reported symptom. This is due to a reduction in the production of mucus by the glands of the vagina. Thinning of the vaginal and vulval skin can follow, which in turn makes them more easily damaged. This damage can occur during sex, especially if lubrication is also poor and even quite gentle friction can cause pain and discomfort. If the vulval lips are thin and dry, they can often rub on underwear causing soreness. Many women also dislike the outward changes in the appearance of the vulva (“lips”) as they lose their plumpness. It is not unusual that for many women, sex becomes difficult, painful, embarrassing, and of course unwelcome! Alteration in the normal vaginal discharge is something noticed by most women after the menopause and also rarely discussed. Without oestrogen the pH (acidity) of the vaginal secretions changes and the normal discharge becomes more alkaline (like caustic soda!). This pH affects the balance of the micro-organisms in the natural secretions which in turn suppresses the normal levels of “good” bacteria (lactobacillus). The discharge changes in nature, becoming watery, discoloured and slightly smelly. This often leads to vaginal burning and vulval irritation. Some women become so concerned by these unexpected changes that they worry that they have contracted a sexually transmitted infection (STI) or even fear cancer. Some seek advice from specialist clinics but most just worry and don’t ask for help. Because of this relationships can sadly suffer and this is all completely unnecessary. Often women buy “over-the counter” anti-thrush treatments, which may not be effective as this is not a fungal infection. Sometimes these creams can themselves sensitise the vulval skin and make the problems worse. Other women can become prone to recurrent attacks of candida (“thrush”) and so it is important to be able to distinguish between the two conditions.
Management of urogenital problems
Recognising that these problems are more widespread than most women imagine, and feeling able to talk to friends, family or even to a nurse or doctor about them is one thing, but is there any point? There are many ways that women can be helped so that they do not have to suffer in silence. Many women in their 40s and 50s simply tell no-one that they have to wear sanitary protection to be able to exercise or go to the gym. Often women resort to using tampons again, although they are not having periods. They find this helps support their pelvic floor and prevent them from leaking urine whilst they exercise. Some women with urinary problems will actually avoid going on long journeys or visiting unfamiliar destinations for fear of being unable to find a toilet.
Management of vaginal atrophy
Some options that may help include: - Avoidance of soaps to wash with (perhaps replacing with aqueous cream, available from most pharmacies).
- Local vaginal lubricants and re-moisturisers, especially for intercourse (available from doctor or pharmacist).
- Treatment of underlying skin problems with topical creams, often after guidance by a specialist and perhaps skin-biopsy.
- Treatment of altered vaginal flora with appropriate antibiotics (often after an examination). This is short-term and may be administered by mouth or sometimes directly into the vagina. This treatment may need to be repeated.
- Local oestrogen therapy. It is now well recognised that low doses of oestrogen therapy, delivered locally in the vagina, can be effective. Vaginal dryness, soreness, burning, vulval irritation and chafing can all respond well to local oestrogen treatments. This can also help greatly with discomfort, pain during sex, correcting the vaginal pH and stopping the overgrowth of abnormal vaginal flora. Local low dose treatment with oestrogen has been found to have significant effect on the postmenopausal urogenital symptoms related to atrophy.2
Oestrogen delivered locally can be in the form of:
- Vaginal tablets: inserted using a pre-loaded applicator. These are used every night for 2 weeks and then twice weekly, as advised. - Creams: inserted, using an applicator, daily initially, then as advised.
-Vaginal silica ring: inserted for a 3-month period. -Pessaries: inserted daily, (preferably in the evening) initially, then as advised.
These treatments are effective and acceptable and unlike conventional forms of HRT, the effects are local therefore the risks of systemic side effects and risks are reduced.
Pelvic floor changes and prolapse
Many postmenopausal women become aware of “ballooning” or bulging of the walls inside the vagina, or even of a feeling of descent of the neck of the womb. Others simply experience a generalised pelvic dragging sensation. About half of post-menopausal women are found to have weakening of the front wall of the vagina (anterior vaginal wall prolapse); about a quarter have similar problems with the back (posterior) wall, and one-fifth with the highest part of the vagina.1 The muscles and ligaments of the pelvic floor (which should normally support the womb, bladder and other organs like a trampoline) are also oestrogen-sensitive, and changes in collagen, due to oestrogen deficiency, have a profound effect on the support mechanisms of the pelvic floor. The protective covering of the clitoris is often affected by the changes in the collagen of the vulval skin, and the clitoris itself can become sore and traumatised. These skin changes are often so profound that genuine skin conditions emerge (“dermatoses”), and may need separate treatment. Many women find these changes make them uncomfortable on a daily basis. These changes can also be a precursor to the process leading to problems with the bladder and “waterworks”.
Lower urinary tract symptoms As they get older many women may find they have problems with their urinary tract (“waterworks”). Urgency incontinence is even less commonly referred to. Some postmenopausal women have difficulty “holding on” once they sense that they need to empty their bladder. They may also leak and start to pass urine before they can get to the toilet
Recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) Commonly called cystitis, this is another form of “waterworks” problem that affects women of all ages, but increases with age with many elderly women being particularly troubled by UTI.
Management of urinary problems The role of local oestrogen in the management of urinary problems is complex. Oestrogen replacement therapy has been shown to alleviate urgency, urgency incontinence, frequency, nocturia and dysuria.3 Stress urinary incontinence would not appear to be helped by oestrogen alone, but it does seem to add to the action of other treatments currently used. Pelvic floor exercises can help keep your pelvic floor muscles in good shape and give you more control over your bladder (click here to pelvic floor exercises article).
The final message Many women may have postmenopausal problems which could affect their vulva, vagina and waterworks, but they should not feel ashamed to talk about the subject or even to ask for help. Healthcare Professionals dealing with women at this stage of their lives are very aware of these conditions and their seriousness, as well as the effect they can have on the quality of women’s lives and relationships. You should never be afraid to ask for help, you are not alone and there are many things that can be done to help you.
Menopause Matters
www.menopausematters.co.uk
Women’s Health Concern
Whitehall House
41 Whitehall
London SW1A 2BY
Helpline: 0845 1232319
www.womens-health-concern.org
References
1. Versi E, Harvey MA, Cardozo L, Brincat M, Studd JW. Urogenital prolapse and atrophy at menopause: a prevalence study. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct 2001:12:107-10. 2. Eriksen PS, Rasmussen H. Low dose 17ß-estradiol vaginal tablets in the treatment of atrophic vaginitis: a double-blind placebo controlled study. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, (1992) 44:137-144. 3. Milsom I, Molander U. Urogenital ageing. Journal of The British Menopause Society. Dec 1998:151-156.
Source: The Bowel & Bladder Foundation
 C&G Medicare, the inventors of IncoStress, would like to thank the team at Medical Diffusion in Belgium for their support in raising the awareness about female incontinence on a personal level to their customers.
Incostress the only medical device which is re-usable, supports the urethra and bladder neck at the same time gently supporting the pelvic floor allowing women total freedom to be dry and enjoy the natural strengthening of the pelvic floor which is needed for bladder control, prevention of prolapse, better labido and for those nursing mothers who want to get back into shape. Incostress has won numerous National and International awards. More information can be obtained from www.medicaldiffusion.be
Bienvenue chez Medicale Diffusion,
Notre métier ? Une équipe de professionnel à votre écoute chaque jour pour avoir avec vous une vision de votre bien-être dans les domaines : Bandagisterie, Orthopédie, Prothèses, Voiturettes, Hygiène, Santé, Confort, Incostress
Nous sommes là pour vous écouter, que ce soit à Bruxelles, Binche, Namur ou Wavre, il y a toujours un centre Médicale Diffusion près de chez vous.
En plus, nous vous proposons la fourniture et le placement des appareillages que votre médecin généraliste, votre orthopédiste ou votre rhumatologue vous a prescrit directement à votre domicile ou dans l’un des hôpitaux et centres médicaux avec qui nous collaborons.
Pour plus d’informations, pour nos conseils, cliquez en haut sur la ville la plus proche de chez vous afin de prendre contact avec votre centre Medicale Diffusion.
Nous vous souhaitons une agréable visite sur notre site internet. www.medicaldiffusion.be
Incostress controls incontinence and strengthens pelvic floor muslces.
Medical Diffusion Brussels – Galerie du Cinquantenaire 34, Avenue de Tervuren, B-1040 Bruxelles Tél 02/734 66 94 / Fax 02/366 41 22 Medical Diffusion Binche – Rue de Robiano 3, B-7130 – Binche, Tél 064/54 96 10 / Fax 064/67 61 36 Medical Diffusion Namur – Rue des Croisiers 13, B-5000 – Namur Tél 081/22 55 00 / Fax 081/22 32 78 Medical Diffusion Wavre - Rue des Brasseries 25, B-1300 - Wavre Tél. 010/80 56 10 / Fax. 010/80 56 09
Ireland ranks fourth in Europe for the Healthcare Acquired Infection, MRSA according to the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (EARSS). Only Portugal, Greece and Italy are worse and Ireland is significantly higher than in many other EU countries. Rubicon Healthcare have launched an innovative product to control the spread of hospital aquired infections in Irish Hospitals and Nursing homes.
Bedpans are widely recognized as major sources of the healthcare acquired infection, C. difficile. From the patient’s bed to their emptying, cleaning & strerilisation the risks of an infection spreading are significant. ‘Imagine trying to hold a handful of sand without spilling a single grain and you get some idea of the difficulty in controlling the spread of C.diff.’ said Peter Nolan of Rubicon Healthcare.
This is what BedWell does. The biodegradable bag protects both patient and staff by totally covering the bedpan or commode. Once used the specialised polymer in the bag immediately solidifies and sterilises the waste. The bag is then tied and therefore sealed to ensure no infectious spores are released outside of isolation.
BedWell should be an integral part of the response to an outbreak in a hospital or nursing home. Good practice dictates that when a patient has acquired an infection they are immediately isolated. BedWell ensures that the patient’s waste is also isolated thus preventing the infection spreading to others.
According to a report published by the Government of Quebec ‘The use of hygienic bags for all patients should be considered in the critical conditions of a C. difficile outbreak.’ The report continues that the use of hygienic bags ‘offers an advantage in that it allows contaminated material to be managed within isolation areas and does not require installing any
equipment.’
In Canada the cost of treating a single patient with an infection is over $16,000 and the HSE in Ireland spends €233.5 million annually on healthcare acquired infections. Using BedWell will not only prevent other patients being infected but will also make significant economic savings in the fight against these infections.
Control stress incontinence. Improve pelvic floor control. Incostress. Clinically trialled with positive results.
 IncoStress for female stress incontinence Suitable for: All women who need total control when experiencing involuntary loss of urine when exercising, sneezing, coughing, laughing etc. Worn the same way as a tampon, Incostress supports the urethra and bladder neck controlling the involuntary loss of urine and at the same time allows you to identify and naturally strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.
- Reusable and effective
- Use night and day or simply when required
- One size
- Easy to use
Ideal for :
- Women who suffer stress incontinence
- Post natal mothers
- Sports women
- Post menopause
- Use as a therapeutic aid to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles
Please review this product on http://www.superdrug.com/incontinence/incostress-inco-aid/invt/228258/
Uriwell, the unisex, flexible, portable urinal is now available at www.. For children the HappyPee product is also
IncoStress for female stress incontinence available. IncoStress is the leading certified medical device for female stress incontinence.
Here is the link for Uriwell & HappyPee: http://www.presentsformen.co.uk/brand/2/product-PFM-Unisex-Uriwell-5594/
Here is the link for IncoStress: http://www.presentsformen.co.uk/brand/2/product-PFM-IncoStress®-6977/
Many of you already know how good Uriwell is if you are:
- Recovering at home and need to stay in bed for a while
- A wheelchair user
- A parent of a toddler going on a journey
- Going camping or to a rock festival
The unique design of Uriwell and HappyPee allows you to use them whether you are male or female, stand. sitting our lying down. The unique lid prevents leakage of odours and liquid. And it is reusable! Simply rinse out and put away for the next time you need it.
Ladies, do you dread sneezing, coughing, or having to run for a bus? One in five women suffer from urinary stress incontinence, with the severity varying from inconvenient to highly embarrassing! IncoStress® is a reusable latex-free tampon-like device designed to help control involuntary loss of urine. Discreet and comfortable, its unique shape helps strengthen the pelvic floor muscles naturally. Comments from users include. “This fantastic device has given me a new lease of life” and “After 14 days my pelvic floor muscles were strong enough to cope without IncoStress”.
Uriwell, HappyPee & IncoStress now available from http://www.presentsformen.co.uk
|
|
For over 5 years I have wondered about the potential benefits of massage for bowel & bladder problems. Not just for constipation but for all problems of this nature.
Follow Rubicon Healthcare