Today we’re going to explore what the pelvic floor is, why it’s important to keep it strong, how to do so, and how a pelvic floor physical therapist can help you on your journey to pelvic floor wellness.
What is the pelvic floor?
The pelvic floor is the forgotten hero of your lower body, consisting of muscles, ligaments, and tissues that form a hammock-like structure at the base of your pelvis. This structure plays a very important role in supporting pelvic organs, aiding sexual function, and contributing to core stability. The pelvic floor is essentially the foundation of your entire lower body!
Why it matters to have a strong pelvic floor
A strong pelvic floor is essential for several reasons:
- It acts as an internal support system for your pelvic organs, like your bladder, uterus, and rectum, keeping things where they are supposed to be and helping them function properly
- It prevents leaking/incontinence
- It can enhance sexual pleasure
- It works together with your core muscles to provide stability and support for your entire body
How to strengthen your pelvic floor
When we think about achieving a strong pelvic floor, most people think of kegels as the main way to get stronger. While kegels can be effective, there are also important tools to increase flexibility. We want our pelvic floor muscles to be strong, yet flexible. Remember, tight does not equal strong, and loose does not equal weak. Symmetry also matters. Striving for optimal symmetry in motion and strength can help prevent imbalances and reduce the risk of injury.
The pelvic floor muscles and core muscles work very closely together. Their functions are interwoven, so whenever you’re working out your core, you are also activating your pelvic floor!
Before strengthening the pelvic floor, we need to start with reducing tension and restrictions in the muscles. Good breathing techniques, awareness of muscle tension, and conscious relaxation can all help release tightness in the pelvic floor muscles.
How pelvic health physical therapy can help
At Elite Muscle Recovery, our pelvic health physical therapists offer one on one evaluations and programs tailored to your individual needs. Every person is different, so the way each person heals and gets stronger will be different as well. Whether you are dealing with pelvic floor issues postpartum or simply want to improve your pelvic floor health, we will work with you to achieve your personalized goals.
We focus first on reducing tension and restriction in the pelvic floor, to make sure you’re not strengthening a dysfunctional pelvic floor. Once you are able to relax, we will guide you through personalized strengthening exercises, breathing techniques, and hands-on manual therapy to help optimize the health of your pelvic floor. Finally, we will incorporate functional and dynamic strengthening to help you maintain control and stability of the pelvic floor with real world activities.
Your pelvic floor deserves to be as strong and healthy as possible. Pelvic floor health is about more than just preventing leaks. It’s about feeling confident, empowered, and in control of your body. Taking proactive steps to strengthen and support your pelvic floor is key.
With the right knowledge, exercises, and support from our pelvic floor therapists at Elite Muscle Recovery, you can unlock the full potential of your pelvic floor and embrace a life of strength, confidence, and vitality. Your body will thank you!