The Effects of Exercise on Your Bladder – The Effects of Exercise on Your Bladder – Regular active exercise is necessary for good health. However, what most people do not know is that physical activity can be one of the factors that influence bladder health. This may result in either positive or negative effects on bladder function, as several types of exercises do, as indicated by some newly conducted research.
High-Impact Exercise and Bladder Issues
Activities like running, jumping, and heavy lifting put extra pressure on the pelvic floor muscles, which can compromise bladder function. These muscles are meant to support the bladder, and if stressed excessively, they may become weak. Female athletes, in particular, may undergo the condition of urinary incontinence when pelvic floor muscles experience repetitive strain. The number of bladder leakages in gymnasts, basketball players, and long-distance runners has been found to increase over time.
The results of a research published in The Journal of Urology disclosed that female athletes involved in high-impact sports were more prone to disclose bladder control issues than those in low-impact activities. As pointed out by health specialists, women can benefit from urinary incontinence by developing pelvic floor muscles through exercises such as Kegels.
Benefits of Exercise for Bladder Health
Along with detrimental consequences of the bladder due to high-impact exercises, moderate and low-impact physical activity can, on the contrary, benefit bladder function. Taking a walk, swimming, and yoga not only help to control body weight but also to reduce bladder pressure. It is obvious that regular exercise can provide the proper control of bladder muscles in elderly people.
On the path to recovery from bladder surgery or with problems like overactive bladder (OAB), people who are involved in modest training can benefit from the mind-blowing effects of exercise. Hormones, blood circulation, and muscle strength are just some of the benefits of strenuous exercise, which helps in the regulation of the same. Lucidly, the hub of this informative conversation about exercise and men’s sexual health is the very link to hormones.
Best Way to Achieve Bladder Control Through Pelvic Floor Exercises
Enhancing the muscle in the pelvic area again is one of the most useful ways in protecting the body of the leakage of bladder contents. Kegel exercises refer to the deliberate process of contracting the muscles that are responsible for the release of urine and then letting them relax. Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles can be achieved by Kegel exercises that are practiced on a daily basis both by men and women. Moreover, those exercises are generally selected by women who recently had childbirth or patients who are older and experience (UI) urinary incontinence.
In a very recent random clinical controlled trial done at the Mayo Clinic, Women who had undergone pelvic floor exercises over a course of 8 weeks reported a 40% alleviation in the control of their bladders. Health professionals advise people to do ten sets of ten a day to get the best results.
Over-Exercise and Bladder Function
On the downside, too much exercise can influence the health of the bladder negatively. Drills that are intensive and cause dehydration are the ones that lead to concentrated urine, which would then scratch and harm the inner lining of the bladder and that would eventually create various issues. On the other hand, lifting and training improperly at the gym could also be two other causes of this disease. Hydration, good posture, and being in good condition through a combination of strength training and pelvic floor exercises are some of the tips from the experts.
Bladder Health in Athletes and Active Individuals
It is quite common for athletes to have bladder problems as a result of the physical exertion they experience in their intense training. A great number of elite athletes are no exception to that and blame accidental leakages on their sport yet they do not ask doctors for help. On the contrary, the specialists encourage proper communication about the concerns of the urinary system while the doctors may recommend that the person seek specialized help in case the problem does not go away on its own.
According to research conducted by the American Urological Association, 1 out of 3 female athletes often face an involuntary discharge from the bladder. Fact is, urinary incontinence is not a permanent problem as it can be treated by behavioral changes, medicine, and physical therapy.
Taking physical exercise or practicing yoga and swimming are the only ways to remain healthy and fit. Undoubtedly, doing vigorous physical activities can injure the pelvic floor muscles while on the other hand, low-impact workouts such as yoga improve them. Doing pelvic floor exercises will significantly lower the risk of any urinary tract problem for the athlete and the elderly. Better hydration and the use of the correct fitness technique can also minimize bladder strain.
Without fail, the first thing you should do in the case of loss of bladder control in your exercise is to consult with a health care specialist. An early diagnosis and treatment will improve your life’s quality to a significant level and will keep you active without any discomfort.
