Stress urinary incontinence and COPD

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Pelvic floor exercises can be quick and easily fitted into your daily activities.

To exercise your pelvic floor:
• Lie on your back with your knees bent.
• Imagine you are at the toilet and you going to stop yourself passing urine midstream, or stop yourself from passing wind.
• Do not hold your breath while doing this exercise.
• You may feel your back passage moving – this is normal.
• Try 5 quick holds – tightening the muscles and then straight away relaxing them.
• Hold for 5 seconds, continuing to breathe normally, and then slowly relax. Repeat this 5 times.
• Do not try and stop the flow while urinating as this may lead to problems passing water.
• Remember to tighten your pelvic floor immediately before any activity (for example coughing, sneezing or lifting).

For more information please see: Bladder and bowel foundation: Pelvic floor exercises.