You Don’t Have to Live with Leaks: Understanding and Treating Urinary Incontinence

If you’ve ever laughed, sneezed, coughed, or run after your toddler and felt a little leak — you are not alone. Urinary incontinence affects millions of women of all ages, yet it’s a topic we often avoid out of embarrassment or the belief that it’s “just part of getting older” or “normal after having kids.”

Let’s be clear: leaking urine may be common, but it’s not normal — and you don’t have to live with it.

At Healing Space PT, I work with women who have been quietly dealing with urinary incontinence for years, often thinking there’s nothing that can be done. The truth is, pelvic floor physical therapy is a proven, non-invasive, and effective treatment for most types of urinary leakage.

What is Urinary Incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is the involuntary leakage of urine. It can happen for different reasons and during different activities. The most common types include:

• Stress Incontinence — Leaking with physical movement or activity like coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise.

• Urge Incontinence — A sudden, strong need to urinate immediately, sometimes not making it to the bathroom in time.

• Mixed Incontinence — A combination of both stress and urge incontinence.

• Overflow Incontinence — When the bladder doesn’t fully empty and dribbles afterward.

Why Does This Happen?

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and tissues that support your bladder, uterus, and rectum. When these muscles are weakened, overly tight, or out of sync, they can struggle to hold in urine properly.

Common causes of urinary incontinence in women include:

• Pregnancy and childbirth

• Hormonal changes, especially during menopause

• Pelvic surgeries

• Chronic constipation or straining

• High-impact exercise

• Obesity

• Trauma or injury

How Can Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Help?

As a certified pelvic floor physical therapist, I assess how your pelvic floor muscles are functioning and create a customized treatment plan to address your symptoms. This might include:

• Pelvic floor muscle training (not just Kegels — and sometimes the opposite!)

• Bladder retraining techniques

• Breath work and core coordination exercises

• Manual therapy to release tight or overactive pelvic muscles

• Education about bladder habits, posture, and toileting positions

• Lifestyle recommendations that support bladder health

Most of my clients begin to notice improvement within a few sessions, and the long-term benefits extend far beyond bladder control. A healthier pelvic floor supports your overall core stability, sexual health, and confidence in daily movement.

You Deserve to Move, Laugh, and Live Without Leaks

If you’ve been quietly dealing with urinary incontinence, know that compassionate, effective care is available and you don’t need a referral to get started.

I invite you to book a free discovery call or initial evaluation at Healing Space PT. Let’s talk about what you’ve been experiencing and how pelvic floor physical therapy can help you regain control and feel like yourself again.

📞 Schedule Your Appointment Today

Visit www.healingspacept.com or call/text 609-436-0139 to book your session.

It’s never too late to start feeling better. 🌸

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Healing Space PT offers specialized pelvic health physical therapy in the Princeton area with Dr. Mehreen Akhtar PT, DPT, PRPC. Our self-pay model ensures you receive one-on-one care and personalized treatment without insurance limitations. Visit HealingSpacePT.com to learn more and schedule your free 15-minute consultation.