how to strengthen your pelvic floor
Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles can be a fantastic way to prevent many pelvic health concerns, such as leakage of urine and prolapse. The best way to start training your pelvic floor muscles is to see a pelvic health physiotherapist who can assess if you have any overt or underlying concerns, assess your current level of function and teach you the correct technique.
what is a pelvic floor exam?
In an initial appointment with a pelvic health physiotherapist you can expect to discuss your pelvic health or pelvic floor concerns, be asked about your bladder and bowel habits, history of pelvic pain, gynaecological and other medical history, any previous or current injuries and lifestyle habits and receive education on the likely cause of your symptoms alongside exploring potential assessment or treatment plan approaches.
what is a pelvic floor?
The pelvic floor is an often overlooked and underestimated region of the body despite its significance in maintaining various bodily functions for both men and women. It can be described as a complex network of muscles, connective tissues, nerves and blood vessels that form a hammock-like structure at the base of the pelvis, spanning the area between the pubic bone at the front and the tailbone at the back and is important in lumbopelvic and core stability, toileting and continence, pregnancy and childbirth and sexual wellness.
WHAT IS PELVIC HEALTH PHYSIOTHERAPY
Pelvic floor physios specialise in the assessment, diagnosis and management of conditions that affect the pelvic region- such as overactive or underactive pelvic floor muscles, leakage of urine, constipation, pelvic organ prolapse and sexual pain. Physios also work with expectant mothers during pregnancy, birth and postnatal recovery and to rehabilitate any related injuries.
How to tell if your pelvic floor is tight or weak
You can think of the pelvic floor muscles like other muscles in the body, meaning they can contract and relax, but with a specialised function in maintaining good bladder, bowel, sexual and reproductive health. Therefore we want muscles that are strong AND flexible, or in other words mobile.