OAB can co-exist with other common conditions
What is Overactive Bladder Syndrome
It is estimated that 16% of the Irish population over the age of 40 years may be affected by OAB.
Overactive Bladder Syndrome (OAB) is defined as urinary urgency, usually with urinary frequency and nocturia (waking at night to void bladder). It can present with or without urgency urinary incontinence (not getting to the toilet in time). OAB occurs when the wall of the bladder goes into involuntary, sudden, uncontrolled spasms. This can happen even when there is low volume of urine in the bladder. With OAB the bladder works overtime contracting more often than it should and at inappropriate times. This involuntary contraction creates the urgent need to urinate. In effect causing you to have much less control over when you pass urine.
It is not an unusual condition and sufferers are not alone. It is estimated that 16% of the Irish population over the age of 40 years may be affected by OAB. This is approximately 350,000 Irish people both men and women and has a significant impact of their quality of life.
Diagnosis
OAB can co-exist with other common conditions
At Anatomy Physiotherapy, OAB diagnosis is made on the basis of symptoms reported by the patient during the assessment with Suzanne and using the real-time ultrasound. OAB can co-exist with other common conditions such a stress incontinence so a whole body, holistic approach to treatment is taken.
Treatment of OAB
- Bladder diary and bladder drills to retrain the bladder muscles
- Bladder calming
- Pelvic floor exercises to strengthen and some cases relax the pelvic floor muscles
- Lifestyle modifications
- Nerve stimulation to correct the misfiring between the brain and bladder therefore reducing the spasms
- Medication prescribed by the GP