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Exercise and incontinence - the embarrassing secret
MEDIA RELEASE – For immediate release. Brisbane, Qld, 18 April 2007
A recent survey by Australian pelvic floor specialists Pelvic Floor Exercise shows that stress incontinence leads substantial numbers of Australian women to give up sport and exercise. Yet few of these women discussed the problem with anyone else, including fitness professionals.
72% of physically active respondents confessed that they experience urine leaks whilst exercising or playing sport, with 40% acknowledging that they had given up at least one activity because of the problem.
Running, jogging and skipping were cited most frequently as causing stress incontinence, but netball, trampolining and aerobics all warranted mentions. All these activities create pressure inside the abdomen and thus put pressure on the muscles of the pelvic floor. If these pelvic floor muscles are not strong enough, small amounts of urine escape, particularly at moments of impact.
"Our survey confirms that stress incontinence is a real problem for ordinary Australian women who are trying to maintain their fitness into middle and later years." said Linda McClelland founder of Pelvic Floor Exercise . "But what is really disturbing is that so few respondents had sought help for the problem."
Sadly, although simple strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles will overcome stress incontinence for most women, only 20% of respondents had approached their GP, and a further 10% had discussed the problem with a medical specialist or a women's health physiotherapist.
An astonishing 50% had sought no assistance at all, either simply giving up an activity or saying they resorted to strategies such as "I don't drink beforehand", " I wear a big pad and hope for the best" and "I pray!".
Most worryingly for fitness professionals, only one respondent had told her trainer the real reason behind her decision to drop out of her exercise program. Most had used excuses such as lack of time to cover up their embarrassment.
Fitness professionals need to be aware that their physically active clients need stronger pelvic floor muscles than inactive women to cope with the added pressure that their muscles experience during high impact activities." said Linda McClelland. "They need to discuss the problem openly and assist their clients to strengthen these hidden muscles."
Guidelines outlining what fitness professionals can do to help are available from www.pelvicfloorexercise.com.au/fitness.htm. Pelvic Floor Exercise also offers a complete range of pelvic floor exercise and strengthening aids that can help the many women who struggle to identify and strengthen the correct muscles.
Ends
About Pelvic Floor Exercise
The PelvicFloor Exercise website is a valuable online resource for Australian women (and men) providing a wealth of information and research into this delicate subject. www.pelvicfloorexercise.com.au is Australia 's only specialist pelvic floor exercise website and online store. The site provides extensive research-based information, along with reading materials, DVDs and manual exercise aids that dispel the mystery of how to do effective pelvic floor exercises, allowing women to make informed decisions in the privacy of their own homes.
The www.pelvicfloorexercise.com.au website is the definitive guide for Pelvic Floor Exercise information, research and products. Check out the full range of pelvic floor exercise aids at the online store at www.pelvicfloorexercise.com.au/shop.htm and you can also contact the team by email.
For products to shoot, more information, photography or interviews, please contact:
Gina Pearce at Savage Public Relations
Tel: +61 (0) 41 438 3917 or +61 (0)7 5452 6231or email gina@savagepr.com.au
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