Urinary incontinence, freedom of movement

Understanding urinary incontinence

Urinary incontinence, accidental urine leakage, affects people of all ages and genders. It is one of the most common reasons patients seek pelvic floor physiotherapy, and one of the most successfully treated.

Leakage is not simply a sign of a weak pelvic floor. It reflects a problem with the coordination and timing of the pelvic floor, bladder, and the muscles that keep urine in working together under pressure.

Types we treat

Stress incontinence, leakage with coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting, or impact exercise. Occurs when the pelvic floor cannot provide enough support fast enough.
Urge incontinence, a sudden, strong urge to use the bathroom that is hard to hold back, often followed by leakage before reaching the toilet.
Mixed incontinence, a combination of both stress and urge patterns, each requiring its own treatment component.
Nocturnal incontinence, leakage during sleep, often related to bladder overactivity or incomplete emptying.

Why it happens

Incontinence can result from weakness or poor timing of the pelvic floor muscles, bladder overactivity, hormonal changes, nerve function, connective tissue changes after childbirth, prostate surgery, or a combination of factors. Assessment identifies the primary driver, which determines the treatment.

What pelvic floor physiotherapy offers

Pelvic floor muscle training (pelvic floor exercises), precisely prescribed for your pattern of dysfunction. Not a generic Kegel routine. Timing, graded control, endurance, and relaxation are all addressed.
Bladder retraining, structured strategies to extend the time between bathroom visits and reduce urgency and frequency.
Fluid and diet guidance, certain fluids and foods are known bladder irritants. Simple adjustments often make a significant difference.
Pressure management, breathing, load strategies, and bracing techniques for high-pressure activities like lifting and impact exercise.
Real-time muscle feedback, real-time feedback on muscle activity to help you learn correct contraction and relaxation patterns.

Stress urinary incontinence has strong evidence for physiotherapy as a first-line treatment. Most patients begin to see improvement within 6–8 weeks of well-supervised pelvic floor exercises.

While a trial of pelvic floor physiotherapy is often recommended as a first-line approach by specialists, if physiotherapy alone does not yield sufficient results in the patient’s opinion, other options are explored, such as pessary fitting or returning to your specialist to assess surgical options.

What to expect at your appointment

Your first visit includes a full history, symptoms, bladder diary if relevant, medical background, and goals. Physical assessment may include external evaluation of posture and pelvic mechanics, and with your consent, internal assessment of pelvic floor muscle tone, strength, timing, and coordination.

You will leave with a clear explanation of what is driving your symptoms, a personalized home exercise program, and realistic timelines for improvement.

Who benefits

Women experiencing leakage postpartum or during menopause
Men recovering from prostate surgery
Athletes with leakage during high-impact sport
Anyone managing urgency or frequency that disrupts daily life

Typical timeline

2–4 weeks

Early awareness and muscle re-education

6–8 weeks

Significant reduction in leakage episodes for most patients

3–6 months

Sustained improvement and return to full activity

Related condition

Pregnancy & postpartum →

Pelvic floor changes during and after pregnancy are a common driver of incontinence.

Ready to start your recovery?

No referral required. Book your initial assessment at our Maple Ridge clinic and we'll build a personalized plan around you.

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Urinary Incontinence Physiotherapy in Maple Ridge