Urinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of urine and is often frustrating and embarrassing for the 12 million Americans who suffer from its effects. Incontinence is not a normal part of aging, bearing children or actively exercising--and it does not have to be part of your life. Treatment is available and ranges from medications, surgery and continence training.

Continence training is a physical therapy program that helps with rehabilitation of the pelvic floor muscles and educates in bladder control. Using special sensors to measure the muscle activity of the pelvic floor and a computerized device that monitors pelvic floor muscle strength, you are shown how to do specific exercises by watching a color monitor. The program includes keeping toileting diaries, learning how diet affects continence, bladder retraining and a home exercise program.

Patient visits take place in a private room in the hospital's new Medical Pavilion. Patients are fully clothed at all times.

Facts about continence training at WWGH:

• Continence training is effective for urinary and bowel incontinence, pelvic pain and bedwetting
• An expertly trained Nurse Practitioner treats patients
• We use state of the art, computerized pelvic floor monitoring equipment
• Consult with your health care provider to consider if continence training is appropriate for you
• Ask for a referral for pelvic muscle rehabilitation
• Covered by most insurance