Things to Know About the Pelvic Floor
There are several health issues that a woman deals with that affect the pelvic floor and include urinary incontinence, pelvic pain and bowel problems. Childbirth, chronic constipation, pregnancy, surgery, chronic coughing, trauma and aging a few types of issues women experience which may cause pelvic floor muscle tension, incoordination and weakness. There are many myths about women’s health and we are going to address two of them below.
Myth 1: Kegel exercises will enhance my sex life.
Truth: Kegels can actually make it worse
Many women do not understand the pelvic floor, how it is made up and it’s function. The pelvic floor is comprised of 14 muscles that each have different tightness and weakness. Kegel exercises actually contract and relax the muscles of the pelvic floor.
The most important thing to remember with Kegel’s is to identify the right muscles to contract and relax. Tightening all of your muscles can lead to further problems whereas not tightening them enough or having too much weakness, which is commonly encountered after C-Sections and vaginal births, can create several different problems. There are several pelvic floor dysfunctions such as GI, back pain, vaginal pain, hip, urethra pain, constipation, urinary frequency and incontinence. At Fusion Physical Therapy, our specialized women’s health physical therapist will address any dysfunctions or problems by properly diagnosing which muscles are compromised and partner with you to create a customized treatment plan.
Myth 2: Urinary Incontinence is just a part of getting old.
Truth: Urinary Incontinence generally indicates a larger health issue.
Have you ever coughed, sneezed or laughed and a small amount of urine leaked out? This is called stress incontinence and many joke around and call them “squirts” or “peezing”. Even if you have had kids, the experts say this is not at all normal.
Urinary Incontinence can be one of many symptoms that can lead to other issues that worsen as women get older. The pelvic floor holds your uterus and bladder in place above your vagina. When you start to experience pain in the lower back and elsewhere along with urinary incontinence an alarm will signal that the abdomen and the pelvic floor have been compromised. At Fusion Physical Therapy, our specialized women’s health physical therapist can help treat these symptoms through customized treatment plans that focus on the abdomen, pelvic floor, lower back, diaphragm as well as other areas.
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction is not something to overlook and you are never too old to address these issues and correct them before major health issues arise. Contact Fusion Physical Therapy at www.fusionphysicaltherapy.com/contact-us/ today to set up an appointment to meet with our trained women’s health physical therapist and create the best treatment plan for you.