Incontinence is the loss of control of urinary or fecal elimination. It is when you have no control over when and where you are going. It is a problem that affects millions. We are all born incontinent and we will most likely experience some degree of incontinence as we grow older.

Incontinence is the inability to control either urine or fecal elimination. Essentially this means that to some degree you may lose urine or bowel movements at times that you do not choose to do so.

There are six basic types of Urinary incontinence:
Stress Incontinence: An involuntary loss of small amounts of urine when you cough, laugh, lift or exercise. It can be caused by multiple vaginal births, enlarged prostate, pelvic trauma or loss of pelvic muscle tone. We recommend using a Pant Liner.

Urge Incontinence: Inability to control urinating once you feel the need to void. Simply, you may feel the need to urinate but cannot wait to get to the bathroom. It can be caused by Alzheimer's, Parkinsonism, enlarged prostate, spinal cord injuries or urinary tract infections. We recommend using a Protective Underwear.

Reflex Incontinence: This is frequent loss of urine with no warning. This is due to spinal cord injuries, brain tumors or strokes. We recommend using Protective Underwear or Adult Briefs.

Overflow Incontinence: Leakage of urine when the bladder is full. For example the person experiences dribbling, frequency, urgency and bladder distention. It is most commonly caused by diseases that cause a blockage of the natural passageway of urine. We recommend using a Protective Underwear.

Functional Incontinence: Incontinence caused by factors outside the urinary tract, such as immobility or cognitive impairment. These individuals would be continent if the external factor were eliminated. We recommend using Protective Underwear or Adult Briefs.

Mixed Incontinence: A combination of forms of incontinence, such as "mixed stress urge incontinence." We recommend using Protective Underwear or Adult Briefs.

Stress Incontinence in Women is often the result of multiple vaginal births or a breakdown in the urethra due to decreased estrogen levels as the woman ages.

Stress Incontinence in Men can be caused by an enlarged prostate or a traumatic event to the pelvis at some time in the man’s life. Obesity can also cause the muscles of the pelvis to relax and cause stress incontinence.

Urge Incontinence is most often caused by disorders of the Central Nervous System such as Alzheimer’s Disease, CVA and Parkinson’s Disease. Spinal cord injuries and BPH (Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy, or an enlarged Prostate) are also common causes of Urge Incontinence as are Urinary Tract Infections.

Reflex Incontinence is caused by cerebrovascular accidents, spinal cord injuries and brain tumors.

Overflow Incontinence can be caused by an outlet obstruction, BPH (enlarged prostate), Neurogenic bladder or a fecal impaction.

Functional Incontinence is caused by factors outside the urinary tract, such as immobility or cognitive impairment. The individual would be continent if the external factor was eliminated.

There are several behavioral techniques that can enhance continence. These include bowel and bladder training, relaxation techniques, biofeedback and kegel exercise. Kegel exercises are performed by tightening the pelvic floor muscles in a series of repetitions. These should be performed 30-80 times daily over a course of eight weeks.

There are also interventional strategies for incontinence if behavioral techniques cannot be performed. These include surgical interventions, pelvic muscle rehabilitation, pharmacological therapies and the use of disposable products. One surgical procedure performed in many cases is called a sling procedure. The surgeon will reposition the bladder into the correct anatomical position to enable the bladder to collect and empty urine properly. Bulking treatments use materials such as collagen to thicken the sphincters that control urine flow.

A number of different products may be used to help those living with incontinence to remain comfortable and dry. The selection of an incontinent product should correlate with the type of incontinence. The smallest/minimal product should be used to support and encourage continence and promote an individual's dignity and confidence. Some product options are pant liners and protective underwear and disposable briefs. Brief sizing is critical – the better the fit, the more comfortable the wearer and the better the absorption.

Walking aids are helpful for patients who have chronic problems, including hip and knee arthritis, as well as those who have acute injuries, such as ankle sprains and leg fractures. Finding the right type of walking aid will help you along the way.

A single-point cane is helpful for many conditions where a little extra support can alleviate pain and discomfort. A cane is the simplest way to lend some support to the leg, though it is not an appropriate option when weight must be completely removed from the extremity.

A quad cane is a good option for people who need more stability than a standard single-point cane can offer, but who do not need the full support of a walker.

Crutches allow you to completely remove weight from the extremity. Crutches require good stability and upper body strength, so they are often less useful to elderly patients. However, crutches can provide both excellent support and freedom for those with ample strength.
Using crutches takes getting used to, but a few simple steps can help you get around.

A walker is the most supportive walking aid, though it's also the most cumbersome.
A walker is an excellent option for patients with poor balance or less upper body strength. New walkers have many options and features that can make the device more convenient to use.

A wheelchair is a chair with wheels, designed to be a replacement for walking. The device comes in variations where it is propelled by motors or by the seated occupant turning the rear wheels by hand or pushed by a person accompanying the disabled.