Leaking on the trampoline!
Incontinence and leaking on the trampoline- pelvic floor therapy in Houston, we can fix it. My brain automatically goes to Shaed’s song . . ‘ I’ve been having dreams . . jumping on the trampoline . . ta ta ta"‘ and there goes my brain!
I have recently switched my exercise focus to strength training, and in order to keep my heart rate up I am jump roping for 30 seconds in between sets. (Jump rope and trampoline are similar mechanisms, follow along please). Y’all after my 4th set, I was like wait . . . is that sweat or did I just leak? My eyes totally got big and I froze, and then I left the gym. Because obviously the most appropriate reaction is to just walk away from the task, bury it, and never deal with it. Am I right?! YES! But no . . . but, I DO get it.
Okay so once we are done freaking out, now what?! If you have followed long enough, the answer is PELVIC FLOOR PHYSICAL THERAPY here in Houston! Duh!
Your pelvic floor is similar to a trampoline. Imagine a bunch of kids jumping on a trampoline ( cue song). If the trample is strong and taut then kids keep jumping and all is well.
What if the trampoline is stretched out and not taut? Aka weak pelvic floor, well . . . all the kids jump and drop, there is no bouncing.
What if the trampoline is super taut and cannot stretch? Aka too tight of a pelvic floor, well . . . the kids jump and don’t bounce they are just stuck. Not good either.
Another one, what if the trampoline is lopsided or a tilt or funny angle? Then they bounce wonky. So ladies, all of these and more are ways that we as pelvic floor physical therapists assess and treat urinary incontinence adn prolapse, and well, really all pelvic pain.
So, what will pelvic theraphy do?
Assess strength: obvious one here, can you actually contract your pelvic floor? like a kegel, you need to be able to contract and use the muscle- does the trampoline move?
Assess timing: can you contract at the appropriate time. So let’s say you can contract your pelvic floor when I ask you to, but can you do it when you are jumping? and can you breath? Is the trampoline going up and down at the right time.
Assess endurance: A lot of our clients can jump rope for 30 seconds no problem, but after about 45 seconds there is leakage. Does the trampoline give out and fatigue.
Assess form: how is your technique? This is where the magic comes in, a lot of our clients know how to kegel and move their pelvic floors, but the way they are actually jumping- for example, head and rib position is making it harder and more likely to leak- we can tweak this and with 1 or 2 small changes get HUGE results. Maybe the trampoline’s bounces isn’t good and it bounces funny?!
After an initial evaluation, all patients are given a comprehensive and doable home program and be held accountable!
So my question is, are you ready to jump rope? ;)
Ready, set go, click and here to schedule or give us a call at 832-463-1152.