What is The Knack?

The Knack is a technique that I teach people to implement in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence.

What is stress urinary incontinence?

Stress urinary incontinence is quite common amomgst both men and women. This occurs when people leak urine while performing a particular activity. This could be sneezing, coughing, laughing or exercising.

What causes stress urinary incontinence?

When you perform one of these activities, the pressure in your abdomen increases. If your pelvic floor
muscles are weak or not functioning optimally then they struggle to keep your urinary sphincter
closed. This will cause urine leakage. The urine leakage can range from a couple of drops to a complete loss of your bladder.

How can stress urinary incontinence be managed?

For my patients who experience stress urinary incontinence, I teach them how to effectively
activate their pelvic floor muscles and I teach them “The Knack”. Before performing the activity that
causes the leakage (i.e. a sneeze), the patient activates their pelvic floor muscles immediately prior. Doing this will enable their muscles to effectively manage their continence. This technique takes practice and needs to be tailored to each patient. It is most successful if the patient already knows how to effectively activate their pelvic floor muscles.

Personalising your treatment:

If you do not know if you are activating your pelvic floor correctly, please book a consult to have this checked. 

~Julia Raptis (Pelvic Health Physiotherapist)

Tara wrote a blog on what pelvic floor muscles are and how they work. Read more here . .. https://portmelbournephysio.com.au/pelvic-floor-muscles/

Sheree wrote a blog about her experience in returning to running post-pregnancy. It is safe to say that this requires a great level of pelvic floor function! Read more here . . https://portmelbournephysio.com.au/how-to-overcome-excuses-and-safely-get-back-to-running-post-pregnancy/