Urinary Incontinence Products, Adult Diapers

What is Incontinence?

Incontinence can affect children, women and men at any age, and may involve loss of control with the bowel or bladder, or both. Urinary incontinence (UI) is specified by the International Continence Society as “the complaint of any involuntary leakage of urine”. Fecal incontinence (FI), also known as bowel incontinence, accidental bowel leakage and anal incontinence, is characterized as the lack of defecation control, or involuntary loss of the contents of the bowel.

Because healthy continence is maintained through a multitude of body connections and interrelated factors, there are a number of reasons that incontinence may develop. It is important to understand that both fecal incontinence and urinary incontinence are symptoms of a deeper problem and that incontinence itself is not a diagnosis or illness. There is always some kind of underlying illness or imbalance that causes incontinence symptoms to occur.

It is also crucial to know that incontinence is not inevitable as we age. While this is a common misunderstanding regarding the nature of aging and continence, losing bladder and/or bowel control is not a normal body response of getting into our elderly years. The vast majority of incontinence issues are treatable; they just simply go unreported to health practitioners because of embarrassment.

Many of the underlying reasons for fecal incontinence stem from damage incurred while giving birth, altered bowel habits caused by conditions such as Crohn’s disease, food allergies, constipation, ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome, and complications caused by anorectal surgeries.

Causes of urinary incontinence include pregnancy, childbirth, weakened bladder muscles, surgical complications, hysterectomy, stroke, diabetes, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and many other chronic health conditions. Diseases that adversely affect the nerves of the bladder or injuries to the spinal cord can also cause urinary incontinence.

Obesity certainly plays a supporting role in the development of both fecal and urinary incontinence, sometimes as the major cause, and sometimes as just one of many exacerbating factors.

What Incontinence Products are Right for Me?

While incontinence is an inherently embarrassing problem with leakage accidents and the odors caused by urine or feces, it can also lead to skin breakdown and sores that won’t heal because of the excessive moisture and/or bacteria in constant contact with the skin. It can be a highly distressing situation to deal with on a daily basis, and tends to affect people so adversely that they change their social behaviors and avoid going out in public.

Fortunately, there is a wide array of incontinence products available today that are highly efficacious in helping you manage your incontinence issues better than ever before. From adult diapers, underwear and inserts that you can wear to effectively soak up accidents and keep the urine or feces away from the body, to specially formulated barrier creams, ointments, powders and cleansing wipes to stay clean, fresh and keep the skin healthy, to bed wetting alarms, bed and chair pads and waterproof sheets, your incontinence needs are covered with the latest advances and innovations in design.

Absorbent Incontinence Products
Encompassing diapers, briefs, protective underwear, underpants, undergarments, shields and inserts, absorbent products have gotten much more effective at managing incontinence. Available in a wide assortment of styles, sizes and configurations intended for men or for women, everyone is sure to find exactly the right fit for their own incontinence requirements.

Adult Diapers
As the most popular solution for those who suffer from urinary and/or fecal incontinence, diapers for adults can come in washable or throw-away formats. Disposable diapers generally contain a waterproof outer barrier, and an absorbent inner material that wicks the moisture away from the skin, but locks it into another layer to reduce any leaks or drippage. Specially designed leg elastics and closures ensure further dryness. Many types of disposable adult diapers additionally incorporate anti-odor technologies into the design.

Waterproof Pants
Also known as rubber pants or plastic pants, waterproof pants are worn over diapers or other protective underwear to enhance accident control. Available in a variety of styles that comprise Velcro or snap on closures and pull-on styles, some designs also highlight linings that add extra absorbency. They are generally constructed from rubber, plastic, nylon, PVC or any other kind of water-resistant material.

Protective Underwear
Used just like regular underwear, protective underwear is pulled on and off via the legs. Available in both disposable and washable versions, this specialized underwear comes in a number of varying absorbency styles to cover everything from light urinary incontinence to heavy bowel incontinence. All of the styles feature elasticized waists and legs ensuring a snug fit to prevent leakage.

Absorbent Pads
Fitting inside of your own regular underwear, absorbent pads highlight some kind of adhesive to attach firmly to another material. They feature padding that covers from front to back, and might have elastic at the legs to enhance staying in place. Stand-alone pads may also be used in conjunction with diapers or other protective underwear to increase leakage control. Depending on the style, absorbent pads can absorb as much as 40 ounces of urine and/or fecal material.

Female Incontinence Pads
While they may look like female menstrual pads, female incontinence pads are formulated very differently and are much more effective at absorbing urine. They can be worn inside of regular underwear, protective underwear or diapers. Usually attaching with some kind of adhesive strips, they conform snugly to the genital area of the body. These pads are not recommended for effective control of fecal incontinence, but they help tremendously for specific female urinary incontinence.

Male Guards/Male Drip Collector
As an elongated pad that highlights a cup-like shape, male guard pads fit inside regular underwear and are generally disposable. Elasticized to comfortably but securely cradle male genitalia, male guards are very effective at managing male urinary incontinence. Depending on the style, male guards can accommodate moderate to heavy overflow or stress incontinence for men of any age.

Formulated specifically for men that experience light dribbling urinary incontinence, the male drip collector is a pocket device that holds the penis. This collector catches urinary drips as they occur, and attaches to male underwear with an adhesive strip.

Incontinence Creams, Ointments and Powders
Utilized to form a protective barrier against fluids and moisture, barrier creams, ointments and powders help to protect against skin breakdown. When the skin is in constant contact with urine or feces, this constant irritation can lead to more serious infections and health problems. These specially formulated creams, ointments and powders help to both treat and prevent rashes and sores, and keep the skin healthy and properly moisturized. These products are not only helpful for adult incontinence issues, but also for newborns and diaper rash. They may also contain ingredients that help with odor control as well.

Incontinence Cleansing/Personal Hygiene
Because the cleanliness and odors associated with incontinence is one of the biggest stressors for people with these issues, there are highly specialized formulations of personal cleaning products available. Some formulations are no-rinse wipes or cleansers safe for using on sensitive genital and anal areas, while other cleansing products are intended for more thorough, rinse-able personal hygiene. These products often include moisturizers and other ingredients to help maintain healthy skin tone, while they also offer antiseptic properties to effectively kill harmful microorganisms, especially those found in body fluids.

Miscellaneous Incontinence Products
There are many other products in this category related to both fecal and urinary incontinence that you may find helpful for your own unique situation. Waterproof sheets, bed pads and chair pads all offer extra peace of mind when it comes to urinary or fecal accidents, and help to protect your furniture. Bedwetting alarms are helpful trainers for both children and adults who tend toward loss of urinary control while sleeping, as an alarm sounds as soon as urine starts to flow, aiding in training the subconscious mind to wake up and stop this flow.

This category is also inclusive of discreet urine bag/urostomy bag/colostomy bag holders for the body that can be hidden under clothing, urine bottles for those confined to bed, fecal collectors and odorless diaper disposal systems.

Rehabmart is pleased to offer superior quality incontinence products from esteemed and well-known vendors that include PharMedCo, Tranquility, Independence Medical, Posey, Salk Inc., Skil-Care, McKesson Medical-Surgical and more.

Hulet Smith, OT
Rehabmart Co-Founder & CEO

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