How to Manage Stress Incontinence when Running

Although experiencing leaks whilst running may feel embarrassing, you should know that you are not alone in experiencing the condition. These accidents are often symptoms of the most common cause of incontinence: Stress Incontinence.

Stress incontinence is a condition where urine leaks from your bladder when it is under pressure from for example running, lifting heavy objects, or through activities such as coughing and laughing.

Why do you experience Urinary Incontinence when Running?

Experiencing urine leakage during running often occurs due to a problem with the pelvic floor muscles. Weakened pelvic floor muscles can be caused by a number of things such as the strain of pregnancy and childbirth, hormonal shifts and the force of gravity over time. Having weak pelvic floor muscles results in the individual being unable to prevent and control leakages. While some individuals suffer from a strength deficit, others possess plenty of pelvic power, however lack the full control or ability to release it.

Excessive tension from injury or stress can keep the pelvic floor in a constant clench. Eventually, the muscles become tired and give away, causing lack of support and leakage control. The impact of too much pressure on the muscles can then contribute to stress incontinence. If your muscles have too much tension, you may experience frequent pain during intercourse or have difficulty inserting a tampon.

The occurrence of incontinence when running can be worsened through drinking fluids that irritate the bladder. Research has shown that caffeinated drinks, citrus fruits, spicy foods, chocolate, milk and carbonated beverages can have this effect. Drinking too much water before running combined with extra pressure on the bladder is a recipe for disaster if you have stress incontinence. Health factors such as being overweight and smoking are also known to be risk factors for incontinence during exercise. Various medications are common reasons causes of leaking during exercise and can even be the underlying cause of stress incontinence.

How can you minimise your problems with Incontinence and Running?

Talking to a physical therapist can help diagnose urinary incontinence and find the underlying cause of your stress incontinence, as well as working with you to improve your strength. It is estimated that six out of ten cases of stress incontinence caused by a weak pelvic floor are improved by strengthening the pelvic floor. The same types of relaxation strategies that help women with incontinence can also ease men’s urinary urges. If your muscles are too tense, your Doctor will recommend trying deep breathing or other relaxation techniques instead of pelvic floor exercises.

  • Find the right balance of Liquid Intake

Although it may be your instinct to start drinking less water when you have outlined a problem with stress incontinence, over-restriction can make it worse. Dehydration concentrates your urine, irritating the sensitive lining of your bladder.

Taking energy tablets and sugary sweets can also worsen dehydration, as your bladder feels a strong urge to purge this non-diluted waste product, causing mini-contractions to make you pee. Doctor Garges recommends dividing your body weight in half and adding 10 to 15 percent; that’s your baseline target of ounces per day. Take notes on how the amount and timing of your intake affect your mid-run leaks and stops and adjust from here.

It is also useful to adjust the times you normally drink water before your run, whilst also avoiding caffeinated and sugary drinks.      

  • Maintain a Healthy Weight

  Staying a healthy weight can make an enormous difference, reducing pressure on the bladder. A study in 2009 found that losing weight reduces incontinence in individuals who are overweight or obese. In a trial funded by the National Institutes of Health, moderate weight loss in a group of heavy women who undertook a diet and exercise program cut the frequency of incontinence episodes by nearly a half. After six months, women in one of the groups had lost an average of 17 pounds and had 47% fewer incontinence episodes. Healthcare experts assert that losing just 5% to 10% of your weight can result in a marked improvement in people with bladder leakage issues. Losing weight should be on of your first lines of defence when it comes to a solution for urinary incontinence.

  • Invest in suitable Incontinence Products

If you are a woman with stress incontinence, it is important not to settle with products that are designed for period leaks. They simply are not manufactured to handle urine, and will not be as effective as an incontinence product. The variety of incontinence products available is growing, and you can now purchase products that are specially designed to provide maximum discretion and comfort. Many all-in-one products are designed for people with a more active lifestyle. The style and discrete nature of the pads mean they are a popular choice for runners. The Attends Slip Active all-in-ones have a discreet nature and feature positioning tapes and resealable fixation tapes for security during movement. You can also opt for stretchy incontinence pants that offer freedom of movement. These can be worn alongside a pad inside the pants, which will keep you dry and comfortable for your run. Depend Active-Fit pants, for example, are designed to look and feel just like normal underwear. The FIT-FLEX Protection gives you extra comfort while you are running and delivers a smooth, sleek look and feel.

Recommended Stress Incontinence Products

Attends Soft

Attends Soft

  • Comfortable Body Shaped Pads
  • Textile Back Sheet

Range from £1.25 to £7.49
Shop on Incontinence Supermarket

Attends Soft

Attends Soft

  • Comfortable Body Shaped Pads
  • Textile Back Sheet

Range from £1.25 to £7.49
Shop on Allanda

TENA Comfort Mini

TENA Comfort Mini

  • Small, reliable pads
  • Ultra White Dry System

Range from £2.85 to £6.12
Shop on Incontinence Supermarket

TENA Comfort Mini

TENA Comfort Mini

  • Small, reliable pads
  • Ultra White Dry System

Range from £2.75 to £6.12
Shop on Allanda

In addition to purchasing the ideal products, you should ensure you always use the restroom prior to running.

  • Look into Surgical Options

Most treatments for stress incontinence do not involve surgery and are un-invasive, however occasionally these methods do not help. Your choice to have surgery should depend on how far the condition affects your daily life and what you can cope with. In general, it is not recommended to get surgery unless your condition is very severe.

The main operations used to help stress incontinence are burch colposuspension and a tension-free vaginal tape.

Procedures that are used less often are the following:

  • Bulking Agents
  • Sling Procedures
  • Artificial Sphincters
  • Anterior Vaginal Repair

 It is estimated that 62% of people with stress incontinence wait a year or longer before discussing stress incontinence with a Doctor. Ensure you talk to a Doctor and find the most suitable treatment options for you. Remember that although you may be tempted to give up exercise, running does actually strengthen pelvic floor muscles and can help your incontinence problem long term.

Recommended Stress Incontinence Products

iD Expert Light

iD Expert Light

  • Maximum Discretion
  • Camomile extract top surface

Range from £1.60 to £4.70
Shop on Incontinence Supermarket

iD Expert Light

iD Expert Light

  • Maximum Discretion
  • Camomile extract top surface

Range from £1.60 to £4.70
Shop on Allanda

Attends Pull Ons 

  • Close fit to the body
  • Feel just like normal underwear

Range from £10.00 to £17.99
Shop on Incontinence Supermarket

Attends Pull Ons

Attends Pull Ons 

  • Close fit to the body
  • Feel just like normal underwear

Range from £10.00 to £17.99
Shop on Allanda

Originally posted 2020-09-02 10:00:04.

One Comment

  1. RJKMFG@comcast.net Reply

    Hi
    Just trying to under stand what is happening to me.
    I had a in large prostate and had the operation on it, does it get large again.
    Thanks Richard

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *