The idea that adult incontinence is an uncommon complaint is simply untrue, according to physiotherapist Jeanne Scheele.

Ms Scheele, a physiotherapist at the Kaplan Centre for Integrative Medicine in the US, told the HealthNewsDigest website that urinary incontinence is actually quite a common problem.

She revealed: "The most startling statistic may be that women suffer with incontinence for an average of 6.5 years, and men for 4.2 years, before they finally seek treatment.

"Obviously, many people are living with chronic symptoms that undermine their day-to-day quality of life - a fact made more tragic because help is readily available."

Ms Scheele also insisted that male or female incontinence is not a normal part of ageing, despite a survey by research firm Harris Interactive suggesting that 38 per cent of people believe this to be the case.

She explained that, while age is a contributing factor in pelvic floor dysfunction, incontinence is "not a normal or an inevitable part of growing older", and that several other factors - such as poor diet and an inactive lifestyle - may be involved.

Reports suggest that more than 50 million people in the developed world may be affected by urinary incontinence.