Functional incontinence is a silent disruptor; a condition that often goes underserved in conversations about health and well-being. For those who grapple with it, the simple act of engaging in daily life can become fraught with anxiety and inconvenience. Yet, as technology and medicine continue to advance, hope flickers for a long-silent community. Here we explore the impact of functional incontinence on the individual and the revolutionary Emsella therapy that’s transforming management.
Understanding Functional Incontinence
Functional incontinence is different from other types of incontinence. Unlike stress incontinence (related to physical pressure or stress on the bladder), or urge incontinence (due to an overactive bladder), functional incontinence occurs when a person has a barrier to reaching a toilet in time. It may be due to a physical or cognitive impairment that makes it challenging to remove clothing or move to the bathroom in a timely manner.
Significant contributors to functional incontinence can include:
- Mobility Impairments: Conditions such as arthritis, paralysis, or chronic pain can make it difficult to move quickly or without assistance.
- Disabilities: Intellectual or developmental disabilities may affect awareness of the need to void or the ability to communicate it.
- Cognitive Decline: Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia can lead to confusion in the recognition of bathroom locations or timing of voiding.
- Environmental Barriers: Inaccessible bathrooms or obstacles along the path to the toilet can play a role.
Despite being widespread, functional incontinence remains largely undertreated due to a lack of awareness, stigma, and patients’ resilience to discuss the issue with healthcare providers. However, ignoring the problem has profound impacts on one’s mental health, quality of life, and societal participation.
Managing Functional Incontinence
Current treatment options for functional incontinence generally revolve around minimising risk and managing symptoms. Healthcare providers often adopt a multi-faceted approach that includes:
Setting Up the Environment
The home and public spaces can be modified to make access to a toilet easier, reducing accidents. This can involve installing grab bars, accessible toilets, or removing obstacles that impede one’s path.
Clothing Adaptations
Specialised clothing like easy-access pants and underwear with Velcro fastenings can make it easier to get to the toilet in time.
Physical Therapy
Strengthening exercises and training to improve balance and mobility can help reduce the risk of accidents.
Scheduled Toileting
Caregivers or healthcare providers may establish a regular schedule for bathroom breaks, even when the individual doesn’t feel the need to go.
While these strategies are vital, they fail to address the root causes and offer complete freedom from the burden of incontinence.
Emsella Therapy: A Game-Changer
The Emsella chair, by BTL Aesthetics, is a revelation for the world of functional incontinence. It utilises High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology to stimulate the pelvic floor muscles, causing deep contractions. A single Emsella session contracts these muscles thousands of times, which would be unattainable through voluntary or neuromuscular exercise alone.
The Science Behind Emsella
The pelvic floor is a critical muscle group that supports the bladder, bowel, and other pelvic organs. Weakness in these muscles is a common contributor to incontinence, particularly in functional cases. Emsella’s HIFEM technology induces supramaximal contractions in the pelvic floor, strengthening and improving muscle tone over the course of treatment.
The Emsella Experience
Unlike invasive procedures or surgeries, Emsella therapy is non-invasive and doesn’t require any form of preparation. Patients sit fully clothed in the Emsella chair for a short session, typically within the range of 20 minutes. The experience is comfortable, with patients reporting a tingling sensation in their pelvic floor, reminiscent of an intensive workout.
Emsella’s Effectiveness
Clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of Emsella in significantly improving quality of life for individuals with functional incontinence. In a landmark study, 75% of participants reported an improvement in their daily life, including the benefits of decreased urgency, increased voiding volumes, and fewer daily voids.
The Emsella Journey
Engaging in Emsella therapy is not merely a medical procedure; it’s the initiation of a path towards reclaiming one’s independence and self-confidence.
Patient Selection and Consultation
Not every form of incontinence is addressed equally by Emsella, and consultation with a healthcare provider is essential to assess the appropriateness of this treatment. Person-centered decision making is pivotal, and understanding one’s goals and expectations are the first steps in the Emsella experience.
The Emsella Regimen
Emsella is not a one-and-done solution. An initial series of treatments is typically recommended, followed by maintenance sessions to sustain the benefits. The number of sessions may vary, but often, six sessions over a three-week period are advised for the best outcomes.
Personalizing the Journey
Each individual’s response to Emsella varies, which is why the treatment must be tailored. The medical staff will work closely with patients to adjust the therapy to optimise their comfort and results.
Combining Emsella with Other Therapies
Emsella is not a standalone therapy. Optimal management of functional incontinence often involves a combination of treatments. Exercises to enhance mobility, behavioural techniques to manage toilet access, and even traditional pelvic floor physiotherapy can complement Emsella to offer a holistic approach to incontinence control.
The Societal Impact
Beyond the individual, the introduction of Emsella has substantial implications for society. By improving functional incontinence, Emsella helps patients regain their active lifestyle, engage more fully in the workplace, and reduce the burden on caregivers. In doing so, it promotes inclusivity and social equity.
Overcoming the Stigma
A significant barrier for individuals seeking help for their incontinence is the stigma attached to the condition. Emsella and similar modern interventions help to normalise the conversation and reduce the stigma, opening the door for more individuals to seek and receive treatment without shame.
Summary
Functional incontinence is a complex condition that requires comprehensive management. Emsella therapy represents a significant leap forward in addressing the physical roots of incontinence. It is a beacon of hope for many who suffer silently, offering a path to live life unfettered by the limitations of incontinence. For the medical community and patients alike, understanding and leveraging innovations like Emsella is crucial to foster true well-being and independence.
The integration of Emsella into standard care approaches is a testament to the future of healthcare, where innovation and empathy intersect to restore quality of life. It’s a message to patients that they do not have to endure the burden of incontinence alone and that cutting-edge solutions are at hand.
Functional incontinence may not be the most visible of healthcare challenges, but with discussions like this, we bring it out of the shadows and shed light on the possibilities for improved treatment. In doing so, we honour the dignity and the right to dignity of those who face this condition every day.
To learn more about Emsella therapy, and how it might help you or your loved ones, consult a healthcare professional who can guide you on your journey to a life free of functional incontinence. The future is here, and it’s time for everyone to experience the freedom of bladder control.
