Urinary incontinence, the once-taboo topic of involuntary urine leakage, has come out of the closet in recent years. But while many people are now aware that incontinence affects a large proportion of older Americans, few realize that it is also a significant problem for female exercisers of all ages. And many sufferers don't know that doing simple exercises can help them stay dry. Many think it's something they just have to learn to live with. Fewer than half of people with the problem seek help, Burgio says, in part because they don't realize incontinence can be treated.
Numerous options are available, ranging from behavioral strategies to medications and surgery.
One of the most effective therapies is a series of simple exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which hold the bladder and several other organs in place. Burgio's study of 197 older women with incontinence found these exercises, along with some other behavioral techniques, significantly more effective than drug treatment in reducing accidents. Yet many women who leak during sports or other activities are unaware that help exists. Some wear sanitary pads during exercise, and others stop exercising entirely. For some people, she says, the loss of 20 to 30 pounds can mean the difference between being wet and being dry.