Urinary incontinence is a common problem in the UK, particularly among women.

Research cited by the NHS Choices website suggests that around 13 per cent of women have some degree of female incontinence, which becomes more common as people age.

The vast majority of cases of female incontinence involve stress incontinence - when weak pelvic floor muscles cause urine to leak when the person coughs or laughs - or urge incontinence, in which urine leaks when the person feels an intense urge to pass urine.

There are surgical and pharmaceutical options available, but many women are reluctant to go down these paths without first exhausting other options.

Fortunately, according to American physiotherapist Amanda McCabe, certain exercises can help with female incontinence, enabling women to take control of their condition and be less reliant on products such as Tena Flex Incontinence Pads.

Ms McCabe specialises in treating female urinary incontinence through an exercise regime and bladder retraining.

She told the Herald News that this approach can help women to regain strength and control over their pelvic floor muscles - although consistent hard work is needed to achieve the desired results.

"It works but they have to put the time in," she explained. "I'm a guide, I can't do it for them. I give them the tools and the information so they can do it for themselves."

At the start of treatment, Ms McCabe uses a biofeedback machine to provide information on the strength and endurance of the patient's pelvic floor.

She told the Herald News that patients are then given a series of exercises - including wall squats, lunges, sit-ups and deep breathing - to strengthen their muscles so that they develop better bladder control and are less likely to leak urine.

The routine only takes up to 20 minutes a day, but does need to be performed regularly to be effective, alongside bladder retraining.

Ms McCabe noted: "There's never a good reason for leaking. The people that do the exercises every day are the ones that get better."