Overactive Bladder & Urinary Urgency: Physiotherapy Assessment & Management
Overactive bladder and urinary urgency are common pelvic health concerns that can significantly impact daily life, confidence, and sleep. At Fit 2 Function Allied Health, we provide evidence-based pelvic health physiotherapy to help reduce urgency, improve bladder control, and restore confidence without relying solely on medication.
This page explains what overactive bladder is, why it occurs, and how physiotherapy can help manage symptoms effectively.
What is overactive bladder?
Overactive bladder (OAB) is characterised by:
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A sudden, strong urge to urinate that is difficult to delay
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Increased urinary frequency during the day
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Waking one or more times overnight to urinate (nocturia)
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Urgency with or without leakage
OAB is not simply a problem of a “weak bladder” and often involves how the bladder, pelvic floor, and nervous system communicate.
What causes urinary urgency?
Urinary urgency can develop for many reasons, including:
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Altered bladder signalling or sensitivity
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Pelvic floor muscle overactivity or poor coordination
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Hormonal changes (including pregnancy and menopause)
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Stress, anxiety, or heightened nervous system response
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Previous bladder infections or irritation
Often, multiple factors contribute to symptoms - which is why individual assessment matters.
How is overactive bladder assessed?
Pelvic health physiotherapy assessment may include:
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A detailed bladder history and symptom discussion
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Review of fluid intake, bladder habits, and triggers
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Pelvic floor muscle assessment (with consent) involving real-time ultrasound &/or vaginal assessment
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Assessment of breathing and movement patterns
Where appropriate, referral for medical review may be recommended to rule out infection or other conditions.
Physiotherapy management for overactive bladder
Physiotherapy focuses on improving bladder control and reducing urgency through:
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Bladder retraining to gradually increase bladder capacity
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Pelvic floor muscle coordination training, not just strengthening
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Urgency suppression strategies to help delay voiding safely
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Breathing and nervous system regulation techniques
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Lifestyle and fluid guidance tailored to your symptoms
Many women experience significant improvement with consistent, guided care.
Exercise, work and daily life
Urinary urgency does not mean you need to avoid exercise or social activities. Physiotherapy helps you:
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Regain confidence leaving the house without fear of accidents
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Return to exercise safely and comfortably
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Improve sleep by reducing night-time urgency
Management focuses on long-term strategies - not short-term fixes.
Book an overactive bladder assessment
If urinary urgency or frequent bladder symptoms are affecting your quality of life, our pelvic health physiotherapists can help identify contributing factors and create a personalised management plan.
Learn more about women’s pelvic health & physiotherapy
Explore our other pelvic health condition pages to understand evidence-based assessment, rehabilitation, and life-stage–specific care:
Urinary Incontinence | Pelvic Organ Prolapse | Overactive Bladder & Urgency | Pelvic Pain | Pregnancy Physiotherapy | Birth Preparation | Postpartum Recovery | Constipation & Bowel Dysfunction
Our expert pelvic health physiotherapists provide private, individualised care focused on restoring comfort, confidence, and long-term pelvic health across pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond.
