Three weeks ago, I caught the flu. Despite my greatest perfected methods of flu avoidance, militant hand washing, pinky on the bottom of the public door handle, holding my breath until I walk clear of the open-mouthed cougher, and so on, I succumbed to influenza B. Obviously, I was not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this year has been one of the most severe flu seasons yet.

The miserable symptoms one finds when they step up to the buffet of flu strains include fever, sore throat, aching, and perhaps most annoying of all is the persistent coughing and sneezing. Dr. Mark Ebell, an associate professor at the University of Georgia College of Public Health, found that the mean duration of a cough is 17.8 days and can be as long as 28.6 days.

Flu season is when a steady stream (pun intended) of patients will fill my schedule with the diagnosis of urinary incontinence (leaking urine). Stress incontinence happens when activity or physical movement — such as coughing, sneezing, exercise or heavy lifting — puts pressure (stress) on the bladder and urinary leakage happens. Consistent coughing seen with the flu suddenly demands your pelvic floor muscles run a marathon where they were only accustomed to running a few sprints from time to time. The weakness that once may have caused an infrequent small leak with a big sneeze or jumping on a trampoline is now responsible for large leaks with each successive cough.

A daily exercise regimen of Kegal exercises designed to strengthen these muscles can restore urinary continence. If the exercises are not helping or if it is difficult to know how to squeeze these muscles, find a certified pelvic floor specialist, like me, to make sure you are doing the exercises correctly.

Jennifer Hinkle PT, Certified Pelvic Specialist

Kramer Physical Therapy

Photo by: Kelly Sikkema