Urination disorders occurring in the elderly – point of view of a physiotherapist

Abstract

International Continence Society defines urinary incontinence as involuntary urine leakage in subjective assessment. It is essential that urinary incontinence is regarded to as a symptom not as a separate disease. Until recently, majority of the elderly society considered disorders connected with urinary continence a taboo topic. Higher awareness level and easier access to knowledge enable even the elderly patients to start therapy in the area of these afflictions more willingly. According to the world standards of urination disorders, in the first stage of treatment noninvasive treatment should be used and when it fails, surgical treatment is to be applied. It is especially crucial in geriatrics patients whose polymorbidity poses contraindications or higher risk to general anesthesia procedures. The following article presents the point of view of a physiotherapist and possibilities of using a wide range of noninvasive methods in the therapy of urination disorders. Classification of urination disorders is presented, as well as possible comorbidities relevant during urological physiotherapy