Magnetic Chair Can Treat Incontinence In Women
Imagine sneezing and suddenly wetting your pants in public. Though this thought might make you giggle, it is no laughing matter for the 20 million Americans suffering from urinary incontinence. However, a new treatment called the NeoControlÒ Pelvic Floor Therapy offers women coping with the problem an effective alternative to invasive surgery or medication.
“Women usually become incontinent as a result of weakened pelvic floor muscles resulting from pregnancy or childbirth, or after menopause hormonal changes,” says Dr. James L. Bailen, an urologist at Clark Memorial Hospital. Dr. Bailen is a member of Metropolitan Urology, PSC, which is one of only two practices in the area performing this treatment, and has assisted over 50 patients.
Urinary incontinence is the involuntary loss of bladder control. It is not a disease, but rather a symptom of a problem in the urinary tract. Studies indicate that incontinence decreases social activity and quality of life in 25 to 50 percent of sufferers and often leads to isolation and depression.
However, NeoControl is giving new hope to women. The new technology employs highly focused pulsed magnetic fields to stimulate nerve activity in the pelvic floor. This causes powerful muscle contractions that will improve strength and endurance over time. By strengthening these muscles, women can regain control of the bladder function.
A typical NeoControl therapy regimen consists of two 20-minute treatments per week for eight weeks. While sitting in a comfortable chair, the patient will hear a tapping sound and will feel her muscles tighten and relax. The treatments are painless and the patient remains fully clothed, making NeoControl therapy much more attractive than surgery or medication.
According to Dr. Bailen, the therapies seem to be working for his patients. Since prescribing NeoControl therapy many his patients report being completely dry after eight weeks and several others report significant improvement in their conditions.
“Most of my patients say they feel better and they are pleased they tried the therapy,” says Bailen.
Once treatment is finished, the patient is encouraged to do Kegel exercises to keep the pelvic floor muscles strong. Kegels are simply tightening and releasing the pelvic floor muscles several times in succession, similar to the contracting and releasing done with the NeoControl therapy. If patients do not do the exercises, leakage may begin again if the muscles lose strength.
A growing concern as the Baby Boom generation ages, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that incontinence accounted for more than $16.4 billion in direct annual medical costs in 1999. Unfortunately, the National Association for Continence reports that only one in four women seek help with the problem due to embarrassment and lack of knowledge on available treatments.
NeoControl therapies are not recommended for all women. Only patients with stress or urge incontinence will benefit from the treatments. Stress incontinence occurs when people lose urine during a sudden increase in abdominal pressure, such as sneezing, laughing, coughing, or exercise. Urge incontinence is associated with an abrupt and strong desire to urinate.
NeoControl technology is too new to know for certain if it is a permanent cure for incontinence. However, early long-term results from clinical trials have shown that a majority of patients are still satisfied with their results 18 months after the treatment.
If you would like more information on the NeoControl Pelvic Floor Therapy or on incontinence in general, please call 282-3899. Or if you would like to e-mail our Women’s Health Coordinator, please visit http://www.clarkmemorial.organd select Ask A Nurse.
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