Pelvic floor therapy is one of those terms that you might have heard floating around in health circles, but what exactly does it mean, and why should you care?
Whether you’re dealing with postpartum recovery, incontinence, or simply want to strengthen an often overlooked muscle group, pelvic floor therapy is essential for everyone, not just women. Let’s break down what pelvic floor therapy involves and why giving attention to this small but mighty area can benefit your overall health.
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What is pelvic floor therapy?
Pelvic floor therapy focuses on strengthening and improving the function of the muscles located at the base of your pelvis. These muscles support vital organs like the bladder, uterus, and rectum, playing a crucial role in controlling urination, bowel movements, and sexual function. Over time, pregnancy, childbirth, ageing, surgery, or even poor posture can weaken these muscles, leading to issues such as incontinence, pelvic pain, or even sexual dysfunction.
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Pelvic floor therapy aims to address these issues by helping you learn how to activate, strengthen, and relax these muscles through exercises and physical therapy techniques. It’s not just about “Kegels” (although they are part of it); therapy can also include manual techniques, biofeedback, and education on how lifestyle factors like diet or posture can impact your pelvic health.
Who can benefit from pelvic floor therapy?
Contrary to popular belief, pelvic floor therapy isn’t just for postpartum women. While it’s often recommended for women recovering from childbirth or dealing with menopause-related issues, pelvic floor dysfunction can affect anyone—men included. Issues such as urinary incontinence, chronic constipation, or pelvic pain don’t discriminate, and pelvic floor therapy offers targeted treatment for these conditions.
People recovering from surgery (like prostate surgery in men), those with conditions such as prolapse or endometriosis, and athletes who experience stress on their pelvic floor from high-impact activities can also benefit from therapy.
What happens during pelvic floor therapy?
Pelvic floor therapy typically starts with a thorough evaluation by a trained physical therapist who will assess your symptoms and the function of your pelvic floor muscles. Depending on your needs, your therapist may suggest a combination of exercises to help you regain strength and coordination, as well as breathing techniques and posture corrections to support your pelvis better.
The exercises you’ll do during therapy go beyond the basic kegel. For example, squats, bridges, or even certain yoga poses can help engage your pelvic floor muscles. Your therapist might also use techniques like biofeedback to show you how your muscles function in real time, giving you better insight into how to control and strengthen them.
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The benefits of pelvic floor therapy
The benefits of pelvic floor therapy are far-reaching. If you’ve been dealing with bladder leakage, pelvic pain, or issues with sexual function, this type of therapy can drastically improve your quality of life. Strengthening your pelvic floor can help with posture, reduce back pain, improve core stability, and enhance your overall physical performance.
For new moms, pelvic floor therapy can accelerate recovery post-birth, help with diastasis recti (separation of abdominal muscles), and address any incontinence issues brought on by pregnancy. For men, pelvic floor therapy can help them recover from prostate surgery or manage conditions like chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS).
Kegel exercises: a key part of pelvic floor therapy
Kegel exercises are one of the simplest and most effective ways to engage and strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. Named after Dr. Arnold Kegel, these exercises involve contracting and relaxing the muscles you use to control the flow of urine. They can be done anytime, anywhere—no equipment needed. To do a kegel, start by tightening your pelvic floor muscles (imagine you’re stopping yourself from peeing midstream), hold the contraction for a few seconds, and then release. Repeating this several times a day can significantly strengthen these muscles over time.
However, it’s important to remember that Kegels are just one part of the therapy. Depending on your needs, your therapist may suggest combining Kegels with other exercises that improve coordination and control.
Disclaimer: This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice.
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