Tips for Bladder health (part 2)
In my previous blog I talked about common foods and drinks that can irritate the bladder and why it is better to sip your fluids frequently instead of drinking a large volume in one go.
This blog will discuss more helpful tips, including some you may not have considered before. I use these on a daily basis in my practice, and hope that they aid in supporting you if you are currently experiencing urinary symptoms.
Foot mobility
In practice I will be interested to learn if my patients have had any previous foot or ankle injuries, and I assess the foot and ankle mobility when bladder symptoms are present. This is because the function of the feet and function of the bladder are linked.
They are linked in two ways:
The first way is related to how our foot biomechanics affect the mobility and muscular chains in the legs, this influence ascends upwards to the pelvis, hips and pelvic floor muscles.
The second way is because the bladder and foot share the same nerve root supply.
Therefore, keeping the feet nice and mobile with flexible foot wear, stretches and mobilisation can be helpful for bladder symptoms.
WALKING
If you follow me on social media you will probably hear me promoting walking as a form of exercise for a variety of different pelvic health issues. Walking is really good for the bladder because it helps to mobilise the feet (see above on foot mobility), and it also works the deep hip muscles which sit very close to the bladder and have an effect on the urethral function.
bREATHING
Our breathing mechanics have a direct impact on the movement of the abdominal and pelvic organs and the pelvic floor mobility and function.
Therefore, if you are experiencing bladder symptoms, I recommend seeing a qualified professional to assess your breathing mechanics. They can then provide specific rehabilitation that is tailored to you.