Pelvic Therapy for Urinary Incontinence
Santa Fe, NM

One in three women experience bladder leakage when they laugh, sneeze, exercise, lift something heavy, run or exert themselves. This involuntary “peeing” which can occur without warning is called urinary incontinence. It can be frustrating, embarrassing, and disrupt your life. Causes of incontinence can include vaginal delivery, weight gain, hormone changes that have caused muscles and pelvic tissues supporting the bladder to thin and weaken, and other musculoskeletal issues.

Board-certified OBGYN Dr. Lynore Martinez offers non-surgical and surgical treatments that can be the solution for urinary incontinence in women – including advanced Pelvic Floor Therapy with Jacqueline Maestas, DPT, our licensed physical therapist specializing in pelvic health.

Before determining the best treatment for a woman’s urinary incontinence, it is important to identify which type of incontinence she has. Stress urinary incontinence causes a woman’s bladder to leak when she laughs, coughs, or exerts herself. However, urge incontinence – also referred to as overactive bladder – is characterized by a feeling of needing to urinate all the time, or the bladder emptying suddenly without warning.

In addition to pelvic floor therapy for urinary incontinence, Dr. Martinez also offers medications, topical hormones, pessaries and other non-invasive treatments as part of a comprehensive urinary incontinence treatment plan. In more severe cases of incontinence, surgical intervention may be the best option.

At Santa Fe Pelvic Therapy we want you to know that you do not have to suffer in silence with disruptive bladder leaks. Dr. Lynore Martinez, OBGYN and pelvic therapist Jacqueline Maestas will work with you to determine the best treatment for your urinary incontinence issues – so you can stop the bladder leaks and get your life back on track!

Pelvic Therapy for
Urinary Incontinence
Santa Fe, NM

One in three women experience bladder leakage when they laugh, sneeze, exercise, lift something heavy, run or exert themselves. This involuntary “peeing” which can occur without warning is called urinary incontinence. It can be frustrating, embarrassing, and disrupt your life. Causes of incontinence can include vaginal delivery, weight gain, hormone changes that have caused muscles and pelvic tissues supporting the bladder to thin and weaken, and other musculoskeletal issues.

Board-certified OBGYN Dr. Lynore Martinez offers non-surgical and surgical treatments that can be the solution for urinary incontinence in women – including advanced Pelvic Floor Therapy with Jacqueline Maestas, DPT, our licensed physical therapist specializing in pelvic health.

Before determining the best treatment for a woman’s urinary incontinence, it is important to identify which type of incontinence she has. Stress urinary incontinence causes a woman’s bladder to leak when she laughs, coughs, or exerts herself. However, urge incontinence – also referred to as overactive bladder – is characterized by a feeling of needing to urinate all the time, or the bladder emptying suddenly without warning.

In addition to pelvic floor therapy for urinary incontinence, Dr. Martinez also offers medications, topical hormones, pessaries and other non-invasive treatments as part of a comprehensive urinary incontinence treatment plan. In more severe cases of incontinence, surgical intervention may be the best option.

At Santa Fe Pelvic Therapy we want you to know that you do not have to suffer in silence with disruptive bladder leaks. Dr. Lynore Martinez, OBGYN and pelvic therapist Jacqueline Maestas will work with you to determine the best treatment for your urinary incontinence issues – so you can stop the bladder leaks and get your life back on track!

Pelvic Therapy for Urinary Incontinence

Pelvic Floor Therapy for
Stress Urinary Incontinence

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) occurs when physical movements or activities—such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting, or exercising—place pressure on the bladder and cause involuntary urine leakage. This type of incontinence is typically caused by weakened pelvic floor muscles or compromised support structures that can no longer keep the urethra fully closed under pressure.

Common contributing factors include pregnancy and childbirth, hormonal changes during menopause, chronic constipation, repetitive heavy lifting, high-impact exercise, obesity, and prior pelvic surgeries. Many people assume that bladder leakage is simply a normal part of aging or motherhood, but this is not the case—stress incontinence is highly treatable with the right approach.

Pelvic floor physical therapy addresses SUI by systematically strengthening the pelvic floor muscles, improving their coordination and timing, and training them to activate reflexively during moments of increased abdominal pressure. Treatment may also include core stabilization exercises, posture and breathing work, bladder habit education, and guidance on modifying activities to protect the pelvic floor while you rebuild strength. Most patients see measurable improvement within several weeks and, with continued practice, many achieve complete resolution of their symptoms and are able to return to running, jumping, sneezing, and laughing without fear of leakage.

Pelvic Floor Therapy for
Urge Urinary Incontinence

Urge urinary incontinence (UUI) is characterized by a sudden, intense urge to urinate followed by involuntary leakage before you can reach a bathroom. Often referred to as overactive bladder when frequent urgency is present, this condition can significantly disrupt daily routines, sleep, work, travel, and social activities.

Urge incontinence develops when the bladder muscle contracts involuntarily or when the nervous system signals urgency inappropriately, and it is frequently associated with pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, chronic stress or anxiety, bladder irritants in the diet, urinary tract infections, neurological conditions, or hormonal shifts. Unlike stress incontinence, which stems from weakness, urge incontinence often involves muscles and nerves that have become overactive or poorly coordinated.

Pelvic floor physical therapy helps by retraining the bladder and pelvic floor to work together more effectively, using techniques such as urge suppression strategies, timed voiding schedules, relaxation and down-training exercises for overactive muscles, and biofeedback to help you gain awareness and control over pelvic floor tension. Dietary and lifestyle modifications are often incorporated into treatment as well. With a consistent, individualized therapy program, the majority of patients experience a significant reduction in urgency and leakage episodes, regain confidence in their bladder control, and enjoy greater freedom in their daily lives.

Pelvic Therapy for Urinary Incontinence Santa Fe, NM