Does your pelvic floor support you?
Many of today’s common physical issues and strains are helped or made worse by a tight or weak pelvic floor. The pelvic floor is a series of muscles and connective tissue at the base of the torso providing a muscular hammock for the organs and core. A balanced and flexible pelvic floor helps to relieve chronic low back pain as well as neck and shoulder tension by supporting the torso at its base.
What causes pelvic floor issues and imbalances?
Many people suffer from weak or tight pelvic floors over time due to sitting for prolonged periods at a desk or car, birthing a child, and undergoing surgeries such as a prostatectomy or hysterectomy. All of these conditions benefit from pelvic floor rehabilitation and training.
What are the effects of a weak or tight pelvic floor?
A weak or constantly contracted pelvic floor affects all aspects of our day-to-day lives including:
- Back pain
- Balance
- Bladder Function
- Blood flow to the prostate
- Erectile dysfunction
- Incontinence
- Knee pain
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Sciatica
- Sexual health
- Shoulder tension
- Slow urinary flow and incomplete emptying of the bladder
- TMJ
Professional treatment for your pelvic floor
- Physical and movement therapists help to retrain and strengthen the pelvic floor musculature.
- Chiropractors can improve physical and nervous system awareness.
- Body workers, massage therapists and rolfers manually help to loosen the muscles and connective tissues if they are chronically tight.
- MDs can address more medical and internal issues.
Self-care tips
You can strengthen as well as relax the pelvic floor through these home remedies:
- Participate in an exercise program such as Pilates that will help to strengthen the pelvic floor during pregnancy and after childbirth as well as after a hysterectomy or prostatecomy. Some video examples can be seen here.
- Relax and don’t rush when using the bathroom to ensure proper elimination of the bladder and colon.
Online Resources
Cleveland Clinic
Urology Care Foundation
