Guilford Woman Magazine for the Women of Guilford County NC

by Alica Garcia Photos by Tim Talley Photography

Many Woman live with the discomfort and embarrassment of urinary dysfunction and believe that it’s just a normal part of aging. These women often experience incontinence, or leaking urine, when they sneeze or cough, and try to stay near a bathroom to meet sudden and frequent urges. Unfortunately, these women frequently think that there is nothing that can be done to help them. But according to Wilda Young, PT, of Alliance Urology Specialists in Greensboro, physical therapy can correct this problem for women, men and children.

“Urinary leaking when sneezing is common, but it is not normal,” said Wilda. “People suffering urinary dysfunction don’t have to live with this bothersome problem.” Women often wait eight to ten years before seeking medical help for incontinence. When bladder control problems are not treated and worsen, it can lead to isolation due to the fear of having an embarrassing accident in public.

Helping A Variety Of Patients
“Alliance Urology Specialists is one of just a few practices in the entire nation, to offer on-site urinary physical therapy services,” according to practice physician, Scott MacDiarmid, MD. Since 2007, Wilda Young and her assistant, Sandy Sharpe, have helped women, men and children experiencing all types of urinary dysfunctions regain their quality of life.

Their patients include women who’ve experienced childbirth, men who are recovering from prostate cancer, children who suffer from night leaking (bedwetting), and recreational athletes, particularly runners, who began to experience urinary leakage due to a weak pelvic floor. Physical therapy often results in quicker recovery for patients who undergo surgery for bladder or pelvic floor related issues. Pregnant women and new mothers are taught how to strengthen their pelvic floor so they do not experience leaking when coughing or sneezing.

Wilda and Sandy work closely with their practice urologists to develop a customized plan for each patient with options for treatment including surgery, medication and physical therapy. This all-encompassing approach leads to excellent outcomes.

Dr. Lloyd Peterson, a urologist at Alliance Urology Specialists, said, “The results of pelvic floor physical therapy, either as the only treatment or in combination with medications, are often above and beyond my expectations.”

According to Chief Administrator Laura Sanborn, “Physical therapy is the best service we ever added because it has such a direct impact on a patient’s quality of life.”

Perhaps one of the greatest testaments to urology physical therapy is the success experienced by men who have undergone prostate surgery. For these men, the physical therapy begins before the actual surgery to strengthen the proper muscles, and then continues afterward through recovery.

Dr. Lester S. Borden, Jr., of Alliance Urology Specialists said, “Since instituting our physical therapy program, we have seen a significant decrease in the amount of time it takes patients to regain bladder control after their prostate cancer surgery. In the past, it was common for men to experience six months or more of incontinence after surgery. With physical therapy, a large percentage are continent within just six weeks after surgery.”

Creating A Treatment Plan
Physical therapy can be used to effectively treat urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, pelvic pain, bedwetting, and overactive bladder symptoms. The goal of the practice is to teach patients how to strengthen and control their pelvic floor muscles, thus decreasing urine leaking or pelvic pain. The physical therapy team at Alliance Urology
Specialists utilizes a combination of the following:
• Exercise (strength, relaxation, coordination)
• Biofeedback
• Behavior modification & techniques
• Electrical stimulation
• Ultrasound
• Manual therapy
• Cold mid-laser

Similar to how a traditional physical therapist works to return a patient’s injured knee or hand to a functional state, Wilda does so with a patient’s bladder. The process at Alliance Urology Specialists usually begins with a doctor or nurse practitioner. An assessment is completed and a course of action is developed, frequently including physical therapy. Wilda then works with the patient to create a plan of care. This can include behavior modifications such as monitoring water intake, keeping a voiding log, learning proper voiding postures, and bladder retraining. It most often includes exercises to strengthen specific muscles in the pelvic floor, abdominals and legs. Even though this is a very complex process, Wilda tries to keep things as simple as possible. For a treatment plan to be successful, the patient must be compliant, motivated and willing.

When evaluating their patients, the staff also looks at things that may not typically be discussed in a traditional medical setting related to incontinence and patient safety. One example is bathroom access for older patients. Are there obstacles that could cause the individual to trip and suffer a severe injury? Does he or she need assistance in going to the bathroom? These may seem like obvious things to consider, but they are essential when deciding on a plan of care. Fewer trips to the bathroom, especially at night, can reduce the chances of a fall. Family members are usually included in the treatment plan and taught how to assist in the process.

Specialized Training
Wilda began her career as a physical therapist in the early 1970s. She later became interested in women’s health physical therapy, and began to assist patients with urological issues. She saw firsthand how physical therapy could help patients with incontinence, dysfunctional voiding and pelvic floor pain/dysfunction. Through the American Physical Therapy Association and other professional organizations, she continued her education by attending numerous classes and training conferences related to this specialty. She is a founder and current owner of Freedom Healthcare.

There Is A Solution
You don’t have to live with a leaking bladder. From new mothers, to men who have undergone prostate surgery, physical therapy can help eliminate incontinence, pelvic pain and other urologic disorders. Experienced physical therapy professionals like Wilda and Sandy, supported by the staff of Alliance Urology Specialists can make a profound difference by providing effective, nonsurgical treatment options.

For more information about urinary physical therapy, or to schedule an appointment with Alliance Urology Specialists, call 336-274-1114