The Pelvic Floor: What is it?
Men and women both have a very important group of muscles called “The Pelvic Floor”. These muscles have several very important functions that most people don’t realize. These include (but are not limited to) gastrointestinal function, reproductive functions, urinary and fecal continence (not having any urinary or fecal leakage with sneezing, coughing, etc), low back and hip stability, support for our abdominal organs, and proper breathing and respiration. With everything that the pelvic floor does for us, it’s a wonder that more people don’t know about it!
Unfortunately, since we rely on our pelvic floor so much, it also leaves room for dysfunction of various sorts. All of these following conditions have a significant relationship to pelvic floor function/dysfunction:
- Urinary/Fecal Incontinence
- Overactive Bladder
- Pain with intercourse or pain with urination/bowel movements
- Diastasis Rectus Abdominis
- Low back, Hip and Pelvic Pain
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse (feeling pressure or bulging on the pelvic floor)
- Interstitial Cystitis
- Many more!
Some of these conditions are more likely to occur in women during or after pregnancy, but many can occur in both men and women at any time. Unfortunately, not many people know that physiotherapy can help and end up seeing several doctors and specialists with little to no improvement.
Conservative management IS out there and for most conditions, some simple exercises and lifestyle modifications can make the world of a difference. So if you or anyone you know struggles with pelvic floor dysfunction, find a pelvic floor physiotherapist – you won’t regret it!
