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Incontinence and Innovo

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Woman lying down with INNOVO
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What is incontinence?

Incontinence is the inability to control your bladder or bowel. It is a condition often experienced by women after they have children but can affect any person at any age. There are many different types and causes of incontinence, such as stress incontinence caused by surgery or childbirth, or urge incontinence caused by urinary tract infections and weakened pelvic floor muscles.

What is my pelvic floor?

Your pelvic floor muscles are the muscles around the bottom of your pelvis that support your pelvic organs, they include your bladder, bowels, vagina or penis. Both men and women can experience a weakening of these muscles leading to incontinence issues, however strengthening these muscles can help to reverse many adverse effects.

What are Innovo shorts?

Innovo shorts are a non-invasive, safe and painless way to treat the symptoms of incontinence. Using them regularly can help stop leaks whether you’re exercising or laughing with friends. As the name suggests, they are a medical device that is worn as clothing and can be used in the comfort of your home to help improve the strength of your pelvic floor.

Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles may result in no longer needing to wear incontinence pads, and you may not need to plan your daily activities around bathroom breaks.

How does Innovo work?

Innovo works by strengthening your pelvic floor muscles. Both men and women can benefit from strengthening these muscles as they are in charge of controlling your bladder and bowel movements. Another benefit of pelvic floor exercises, besides improving relief from incontinence, is that it can help you experience more pleasurable sex. Innovo products have been designed to be worn by both sexes, and the comfortable material ensures a secure fit around your body.

The pelvic floor shorts deliver pelvic floor contractions using electrical muscle stimulation (EMS). There is no need to worry as the electrical pulses are not painful. Instead, you’ll feel a squeezing, tightening or lifting sensation between your legs, with these sensations gently intensifying as you increase the settings on the controller. The muscles are painlessly stimulated by the electrodes which sit at the front and the back of the shorts, with the cross over from these electrical stimulations activating and strengthening your pelvic floor muscles.

Does Innovo work for urge incontinence?

Yes, Innovo shorts can help men and women who live with stress, urge or mixed incontinence. They’re non-invasive and safe and can help you regain control by treating the root cause of bladder weakness. The shorts can be used by people of all ages who experience leaks and bladder sensitivity, however the best results can be seen when the shorts are worn as directed and for the recommended length of time.

How do you use Innovo pelvic floor shorts?

Innovo shorts can be worn like your pants, they work best if you wear them with nothing on underneath or underwear that exposes your bottom. Before you wear your Innovo pelvic floor exercisers, you’ll need to spray each electrode with the included spray and connect the leads and sockets carefully. The full instructions can be found in the packaging as well as instructions on how to charge the shorts’ controller ready for use.

Each session lasts for up to 30 minutes, and it is recommended that you have a session five days a week for up to 12 weeks. These shorts can be used in three separate positions including standing and lying down, so can easily be worn at home while you’re watching TV, reading or relaxing.

Watch the short video below to find out how you can use Innovo at home


Do Innovo shorts work?

When looking for a solution or treatment option, it can be confusing and difficult to know what may work. That’s why it is important to read reviews and testimonials beforehand to ensure Innovo shorts are the right treatment plan for you. Before trying the shorts to alleviate pelvic floor related incontinence conditions, you may also want to talk to a healthcare professional. Be sure to read the product description carefully as there are a few people that cannot use the shorts.

Innovo shorts produce over 180 pelvic floor contractions per session without you having to do any voluntary activation of these muscles. Instead, you may feel your muscles being lifted resulting in increased strength and control. Accurately following the treatment plan can achieve long-lasting results, however, you may see results sooner as it entirely depends on your current situation and condition.

Is there anyone that can’t use Innovo for bladder control?

Although designed to treat incontinence in men and women there are some people that cannot use Innovo, these include:

  • Pregnant women
  • Those living with epilepsy
  • Anyone who has a cardiac pacemaker or implanted defibrillator
  • Anyone with any sort of implanted metal or electronic device, including an IUD

If you have a heart condition, it is recommended that you consult your healthcare clinician before using Innovo shorts. If you are looking to use the pelvic shorts after you have given birth you’ll need to wait at least six months or until you have finished lactating, for more information about who cannot safely use these pelvic floor shorts click here.

How much is Innovo?

Innovo is a brand that specialises in pelvic floor exercising shorts, these shorts are available in the UK and online at LloydsPharmacy. The price of Innovo shorts may vary from retailer and change with seasonal sales or discounts. However, at LloydsPharmacy Innovo short prices start from £325 with free home delivery.

References

www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/womens-health/what-are-pelvic-floor-exercises
www.myinnovo.com/uk
www.nhs.uk/planners/pregnancycareplanner/documents/bandbf_pelvic_floor_women.pdf