Urinary Incontinence Only When Using Rebounder

by Brandi
(Arizona)

I have been using my rebounder for so long I have worn it out. But I still have the same question I had when I started to use it. When I jump I have to wear a kotex pad because of a little leak every time I land.


Is this normal?

I am a 44 year old female with 4 children and 20 lbs overweight. I eat fair, sleep well, and exercise in some way twice a day. I do my Kegel exercises and don't have a problem with urinary incontinence at any other time.

Some days when I jump for 30 minutess I can fill an overnight pad. I even stop to go pee in the middle of the session.

Any suggestions???


ANSWER


Hi Brandi,

Urinary incontinence is common for women who have had multiple children. Have you always had this problem, or only after the multiple births?

It is unusual that you only experience these issues when rebounding, as opposed to exercise in general.

Do you know what brand of rebounder you have? I ask because low-quality rebounders can make urinary incontinence symptoms much worse.

That's because cheaper rebounders have springs that don't absorb much of the shock of bouncing. The jarring effect could be what's causing the leakage.

If it is a high-quality rebounder like Needak (see best rebounders for why I like Needak), perhaps the springs have worn out from so much use.

Springs have a limited life-span. Some more classic springs break when worn out.

Springs with newer designs, that absorb even more impact, don't break but instead lose some of their ability to "spring" back. It can be difficult to notice when they need replacing.

Springs from Needak need replacing every 5 to 6 years (or after a million bounces).

So I would check the quality of the rebounder you have.

If it is a cheaper model, upgrade to Needak's soft-bounce model.

If it is a high-quality model, try replacing the springs and see if that helps.

Rebounding is actually an excellent exercise for reversing urinary incontinence. But only if it is a high-quality model in good condition.

Wishing you the best of health,

Melissa
Approach Wellness


Comments for Urinary Incontinence Only When Using Rebounder

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evidence of harm
by: Anonymous

Honestly, I am quite shocked at the advice on this site telling women to continue rebounding when they are clearly having issues ONLY when rebounding.

Having done a thorough literature search, I can tell you that it is a known fact that 80% of professional female rebounder / trampoline athletes above age 25 have the same issue.

It has nothing whatsoever to do with what brand you purchase.. don't be fooled by well-meaning but ignorant advice.

Type the words pelvic floor + rebounder into google scholar and look at the medical literature yourselves.

The only ones selling rebounding for pelvic health are those who profit from it.. absolutely disgraceful.

Response

Thanks for your candid feedback. I agree that many claims can be overstated, or, at least, stated without sufficient qualification, reservation, or empathy. It is a fact that higher impact and more rigorous exercise can cause stress urinary incontinence, defined as "involuntary leakage on effort or exertion, or on sneezing or coughing." No doubt that all men and women who suffer from this ailment are less comfortable during rebounding or other exercise that will provoke stress through the movement of the pelvic floor. If the discomfort is too great, then it is best to make changes or take some time off from higher impact exercises while strengthening the pelvic floor function.

Bottom line: High impact exercises are great for cardiovascular health, bone density and other reasons, but not without risks. So, whatever it takes, find exercise you enjoy and keep moving!

1 Bø, K. Sports Med (2004) 34: 451. doi:10.2165/00007256-200434070-00004

Brian
Approach Wellness
Leaking
by: annette

I am 52 years old and just got my rebounder bellicon. I leak too when I jump high and bounce down on my knees .I just got my bellicon 4days ago and damn I love it . my bounce and workout is for 1.5 hr. Just so in love with this style of workout . I hope it will get better ,but if wearing a pad for this small leaking that is ok. Smal price to pay for sure a great workout . 6-6-1215 I start my day out with a soft bounce for 15-20 mins day . Just bounce

RESPONSE

Thanks for your feedback Annette. I'm glad you love your Bellicon. It is by far the best rebounder out there - no other come close! Happy bouncing!

Wishing you the best of health,

Melissa
Approach Wellness
Same issue
by: Anonymous

I have the same problem, and I also have a high-quality trampoline (Bellicon). I don't have incontinence issues at any other time: just rebounding. I'm in my target weight range for my height and in general good health. I've been rebounding now daily for about nine months, and the problem doesn't seem to be getting any better. If anything, it got more pronounced after a few months (I didn't have the issue for the first month or so). But for me, it's worth it to wear pads to keep rebounding. The exercise is great! I think the leaking is just an unfortunate consequence of rebounding that it sounds like many women face (especially in their thirties and beyond).
cold laser therapy for bladder
by: Anonymous

I know this is going to sound odd, but you can have cold laser therapy (2 treatments generally is all it takes) applied to the pelvic floor that will take care of the bladder issues. My spouse and I own a therapeutic laser center and when I started having this issue we researched and found that in fact there is a laser protocol for this issue. Needless to say, I was so happy a couple of days later! In Dallas there is a GYN that has now completely changed her clinic to only this service because the demand is so high.

There's no pain, no surgery, it's simply light that is place at the opening of the pelvis to allow the body to repair. You can do a google search for cold laser (or low level laser therapy) for those in the Northern CA area you can visit Luna Therapy in San Jose and we'd be happy to help.
Other factors contributing to stress incontinence
by: Anonymous

I'm a physical therapist who treats urinary incontinence. If the tissues supporting your bladder have been stretched or weakened (common after pregnancy but also possible in people who have never had children) your bladder will move more as you bounce. This decreases the inherent pressure at the bladder neck allowing some urine to leak out of the bladder into the urethra. Fortunately the muscles of the pelvic floor are there to keep urine from escaping your urethra usually. Unfortunately, the weight of your bladder hitting the muscles in of the pelvic floor as you bounce stretches them a little making them work harder. When they fatigue, the urine can escape. You can have a strong initial kegel, but poor endurance (like being able to lift a heavy weight 5 times, but not 20). I'd recommend having a PT who specializes in incontinence evaluate you and give you a personalized pelvic floor exercise routine.
Same here!
by: Anonymous

I am in my 50's and I recently got a rebounder. It is a high quality rebounder - Bellicon - and I have to use a pad while I use it. I am hoping that after some time this problem will go away. I never have this problem except for when I am rebounding. When I was in my 20's I had a rebounder, but I didn't have this problem then.
urinary incontinence while rebounding
by: Anonymous

I have the same issue with urinary incontinence while rebounding and not at other times. Sometimes I saturate a pad and other times nothing. I think it has to do with how much coffee or water I have consumed prior to exercising. I have two nieces who are gymnists and they have told me that they and their gymnist friends have this problem too. I think that bouncing and the increase of gravity when hitting the rebounder just causes more pressure downwards and can result in this temporary issue. I do think that overall rebounding has tightened my pelvic floor muscles because I used to have a little stress incontinence prior to doing this. Maybe there is still a little weakness there, who knows, but I keep rebounding every day for twenty minutes because I love it. If anyone knows anything about the possibility of damaging oneself....creating a prolapse bladder or rectum as a result of rebounding I would love to know! I am 61 yrs old and acive!
Problems while exercising on rebounders
by: Anonymous

It is always wise to start off any new exercise slowly, let the body adapt itself to the new routine. Gently, give it the required time, and see in 6 months time you would be bouncing like a pro. I learnt this the hard way, I have bad knees and also urinary problem in the beginning, of rope jumping which i really love,but in my excitement I overdid everything, but soon I learnt to give the required time my body needed to adjust itself to the new routine. Now while rebounding, or doing aerobics or jumping, I have no problem.
Happy rebounding to all!!!
Me too!
by: Beth

I have had the same problem since I began rebounding a few years ago. I have a Needak rebounder, have not had kids, and started rebounding in my late 20s. I have never had any incontinence in my life, and have strong kegel muscles. I also have to wear a pad when I rebound. If I keep my kegels squeezed when I jump, it greatly minimizes this, but it takes away from the carefree bouncing around feeling! I find that it gets much worse when I jump higher, and the leakage occurs when I land.
Rebounding fixes incontinence
by: Debbie

I can attest to the fact that if you start out with an incontinence problem and use a rebounder on a regular basis for a length of time, you will no longer have this problem. When I mentioned this to my Urologist, he was very interested since he read that it can help or even cure incontinence symptoms. Debbie, NJ
Same problem
by: Anonymous

Hi, same urinary problem here and only when rebounding. I can only rebound for a few minutes at a time without leakage. Always have to wear a pad. I have a new Reebok rebounder, am in my mid 50's and no kids. Kinda puts me off rebounding to be honest :(


RESPONSE


Sorry to hear you are having leakage problems with your new rebounder. Perhaps you are trying to do too much too soon?

The leakage you are having is telling you that your bladder sphincter muscles are weaker than they should be. This tends to happen as we age.

Best to do something now before they get weaker and your leakage problems get worse.

Try doing a simple health bounce (directions can be found at rebounder exercises) for 1 or 2 minutes a few times a day for a week or so.

Then increase to 3-4 minutes a few times a day. After another week or so increase to 5-6 minutes of health bouncing a few times a day.

Then try slightly higher bounces (where your feet leave the mat), light jogging, and other easy aerobic moves.

By going slow in the beginning, you'll give your bladder sphincter muscles time to get stronger.

Hope you find this helpful.

Wishing you the best of health,

Melissa
Approach Wellness
Thanks Melissa
by: Brandi

Thanks Melissa, for the info on the rebounder. You are right I have a cheap rebounder (very firm) and about 1/4 of the springs are gone. Yes, I need to replace it right away. I can't live without it. Thanks for the advice. I knew there couldn't be anything wrong with me (urinary incontinence).

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