Trampoline Incontinence: Is this a Thing?

It’s often referred to as a bit of a joke but, yes, trampoline incontinence is a thing! Trampoline incontinence is actually a type of stress bladder leakage (incontinence) caused by the increase in intra-abdominal pressure as you bounce up and down on the trampoline.

Kate Winslet who appeared on the Graham Norton show when she was 40 confessed, “I can’t jump on trampolines anymore, I wet myself’. ‘It’s bl***y awful, especially if you’re wearing a skirt.”

She is not alone. Two thirds of women over 40 suffer with bladder leakage with many feeling embarrassed and depressed as a direct result and one in three experiencing symptoms when running, jumping or engaging in other physical activities.¹

Yasmin Ibrahim from West London first noticed some ‘trampoline incontinence’ when she was 42 saying, “I’d started working as a childminder and happily went on the trampoline with the kids I was looking after but was mortified to discover that within five minutes of bouncing about, I’d ‘totally leaked’.”

What causes bladder leakage?

Bladder leakage, which can be caused by childbirth and often develops as women get older, is believed to affect millions of adult females – of all ages.

Dr Donna McVey, Medical Director of Femeda, the innovative company behind Pelviva®, explains why this happens saying, “Pregnancy, childbirth, hormonal changes associated with the menopause and putting on weight can all contribute to bladder leakage due to weakening of the Pelvic Floor muscles.

“Often one of the first signs that Pelvic Floor muscles may be weakening is when leaking occurs during exercise and some women experience ‘trampoline incontinence’ when they get on a trampoline with their children and experience bladder leakage.

“This may lead to some women actively avoiding exercise and trampolines whilst others will make a bit of a joke about it! However, the reality is, it’s just not that funny. It may help to do Pelvic Floor exercises to strengthen your Pelvic Floor, or, if you find these difficult, give yourself a helping hand by using a Pelvic Floor trainer like Pelviva. Pelviva which can be used simply, and discreetly at home, works with your body to train and strengthen your Pelvic Floor muscles.”

One woman who used Pelviva in a consumer research project ² said, “I can now bounce on a trampoline for longer without leaking and I do feel more ‘connected’ to my Pelvic Floor when I tense it and believe it feels stronger.”

Janine, a keen cyclist from London, says, “I recommend Pelviva to women I come across who are in a similar age group to me! Before using it, my original goal was to go out into the garden and get on the trampoline with my daughter and just have a bounce around because some time ago I got on and it didn’t work out too well! If I were to rate Pelviva out of 10 I’d have to give it a 10 because it’s given me a physical benefit, mental improvement and it’s given me control.”

Other women have felt more confident generally after using Pelviva. You can read about their experiences on our YouTube channel.

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1 – Femeda One Poll survey of 2000 women, Summer 2019.

2 – Kirk Research 2019

PEL/00156/UK 21.04.20