Latest News & Events
Men in control… of bladder, bowel and erectile function
Fri 9, Jun 2017According to the 2008 Australian Bureau of Statistics, some of the most common causes of premature death among men are heart attack, lung, colon, rectum and prostate cancers, stroke, respiratory disease and diabetes. Perhaps an added incentive for men taking better care of themselves might be knowing that, by adopting certain lifestyle changes (such as […]
Stronger and leaner – an antidote to incontinence?
Fri 26, May 2017The results of a recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society show that older women may be less likely to be affected by incontinence if they lose a little weight and increase their strength slightly. The three-year-long University of California study, which involved 1500 women in their 70s, found that a […]
Patterns within the abdominal muscle wall in postnatal women
Wed 21, Dec 2016During pregnancy the abdominal wall is lengthened, to enable the uterus to expand as the baby or babies grow. After the birth, the muscles of the lengthened abdominal muscle wall require retraining to assist them to return to their normal length and to function as an integral part of the core. This includes their coordinated […]
Q&A: Pelvic pain
Fri 16, Dec 2016I am 31, have no children, and enjoy going to the gym, especially doing core exercises. Recently I started having trouble emptying my bladder, and sex is painful. These symptoms are often caused by overactive pelvic floor muscles. Every time you tighten your abs, the pelvic floor muscles inside your pelvis tighten too. They need […]
Managing the mother load
Thu 15, Dec 2016It’s more common than gestational diabetes, varicose veins, haemorrhoids, mastitis, birth defects and postnatal depression, but it’s probably the last thing being discussed in your mothers’ group. Wetting your pants. Yep, if you thought the indignities of childbirth ended with a cast of doctors and midwives getting up close and personal with your hooha, think […]
Moira Turnbull: Carer of the Year
Thu 8, Dec 2016Glenn Turnbull contracted encephalitis as a toddler, which left him severely disabled. His mother, Moira, who has been caring for him ever since, was recently awarded the Continence Health Australia’s 2016 Carer of the Year. Moira shares her story with Maria Whitmore. Moira Turnbull, 73, doesn’t seem the sort of person to get easily annoyed. […]
Paralympians inspire: inside and outside the sporting arena
Thu 8, Dec 2016Keren Faulkner, physical therapies manager at the London and Rio Paralympic Games, speaks to Maria Whitmore about the Paralympians’ extraordinary determination, not only in the sporting arena, but in the management of their disabilities. Sports physiotherapist Keren Faulkner has spent a lot of time working with athletes at the highest level. She was a member […]
Q&A Pelvic Pain
Thu 8, Dec 2016Physiotherapists Shan Morrison and Patricia Neumann answer these common questions about pelvic pain. Question1. I am 31, have no children, and enjoy going to the gym, especially doing core exercises. Recently I started having trouble emptying my bladder, and sex is painful. Answer1. These symptoms are often caused by overactive pelvic floor muscles. Every time you […]
Toilet training children with special needs
Thu 8, Dec 2016Adelaide-based occupational therapist and toilet training consultant Debbie Atkins provides tips for toilet training children and young people with a developmental disability. Learning to use the toilet is an important developmental skill for all children. For some children and young people with a developmental disability, there are often additional challenges, and toilet training can become […]
Jack Tyrrell: the blind leading
Fri 2, Dec 2016Earlier this year the Continence Foundation launched new resources and website software to improve accessibility for people with a disability. Jack Tyrrell, who helped launch the new initiatives, tells Maria Whitmore how losing his sight five years ago made him an advocate for better access to information, and forged a new career path. Who among […]
Feeling the squeeze
Thu 10, Nov 2016There are many things in life to feel guilty about: that second helping of cheesecake, the unused gym membership or forgetting your child’s birthday (and having to hear about it for the next five years). Well, get ready to add one more thing to the list: not doing pelvic floor muscle exercises several times a […]
How to exercise without wetting yourself
Thu 10, Nov 2016You know exercise is having a moment when leisurewear is dominating the catwalk and fashion pages. But what about the less glamorous side of exercise women rarely talk about – that sudden damp sensation in your pants as you sink that three-pointer, put away a cross-court winner or Downward Dog? Fabulous. Wetting your pants while […]
What NOT to do at the gym
Thu 22, Sep 20161. Drinking excessive amounts of water. This crazy idea that “the more water you drink the better” is a load of clever marketing bunkum. There is no evidence that drinking more water that what our thirst dictates has any health benefits. In fact, excessive fluid intake can do the opposite; it can put strain on […]
Pelvic floor friendly exercise. No one size fits all
Fri 2, Sep 2016By Lisa Westlake, Pelvic Floor First ambassador As a physiotherapist working in the fitness industry, I would have to say that the enhanced awareness regarding the relationship between pelvic floor function and exercise is one of the most valuable progressions of the last decade, especially in regards to women’s health and wellbeing. I am very […]
Female triathletes at higher risk for pelvic floor disorders
Thu 1, Sep 2016A US study has found female triathletes are at a higher risk for pelvic floor disorders, among other health issues. The study, led by Loyola Medicine researchers, found that female triathletes suffered from a high rate of stress urinary and faecal incontinence. Of the 311 internet survey respondents, 37.4 per cent experienced urinary incontinence, while 28 […]
Pelvic floor muscle exercises recommended for menopausal women with osteoporosis
Fri 26, Aug 2016Recent research out of Montreal University shows pelvic floor muscle exercises can dramatically improve incontinence in menopausal women with osteoporosis. Forty-six volunteers were recruited for the study, published in the March Journal of the North American Menopausal Society. All the women were menopausal, had osteoporosis and were affected by stress or urge incontinence or both. […]
Waist trainers. Muscle wasters?
Thu 25, Aug 2016The Kardashians and other celebs are spruiking waist trainers – in particular the ones designed for exercising. Put them on and you’ll speed up the weight-losing, body-sculpting benefits of exercise. The advertising spiel around, what are essentially resurrected, re-branded, 19th century corsets, tells you you’ll achieve “a slimmer waist faster than usual”. Can’t argue with […]
What it takes, is what it takes
Fri 8, Jul 2016Consider this scenario: You have struggled with a sore knee for a long time but it has become more painful and you are avoiding bending down, climbing stairs and lifting heavy loads. You finally decide to see a physiotherapist who recommends some simple daily exercises and explains how to bend, climb stairs and lift heavy […]
What’s new in pelvic floor research
Wed 8, Jun 2016Pelvic floor exercises before prostate surgery speeds up recovery Men who start doing pelvic floor exercises before prostate surgery regain their continence earlier than men who start them after surgery, according to Australian researchers. Sydney University researchers analysed the findings of 11 independent studies, which involved a total of 739 prostate cancer patients of all […]
Re-thinking abdominal training in pregnant and postnatal women
Wed 23, Mar 2016Abdominal separation is one of the most common conditions that physiotherapists see in pregnant and postnatal patients. As many as two in three pregnant women have some degree of abdominal separation. As a result, it is essential that abdominal exercises in the childbearing years be carefully considered and modified. What is DRAM? Diastasis of rectus […]
-
Speak to a
Nurse Continence
Specialist:
1800 33 00 66
An initiative of continence.org.au
Continence Health Australia is the national peak body promoting bladder
and bowel health.