IC Disease

I recently read a really good article that IC patients have a particular “posture”. The article talked about how the ongoing bladder inflammation affects surrounding muscles, larger muscle groups in the body and the postural muscles. The author of the article who talks about the “IC posture” has been a support group leader and she provided some interesting information on Interstitial Cystitis that I had never heard about before.

She says that people with IC have tight hip flexors. These are the muscles that are in the front of the hips. Many IC patients also have tight hamstring muscles. The hamstrings are the large muscles in the back of the legs. Because of these tight hamstrings, the person’s body weight falls into their heels.

When this happens, the rib cage can collapse and leave little support for the head. What compounds this problem is the shortening of the rectus abdominus, which basically runs from the pubic bone (in front of the bladder) to the upper ribs near the diaphram.

When these areas, or muscles are tight and short, standing, walking, lifting, climbing stairs and sitting can be very difficult. The bladder may cause this compromise, but the bladder is also affected by this compromise. When we cannot use our muscles properly, we compensate and often injure ourselves.

Gaye suggests that strengthening, stretching and good body mechanics are needed in order for the IC patient to get relief from the typical IC pain pattern.

Tomorrow Part 2 will include more on needed exercises to treat the “IC posture”.

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