Your pelvic floor is a (somewhat) rarely discussed part of the human body.
It helps us urinate, has a role in intercourse, helps with bowel movements, and stretches quite a bit during pregnancy and giving birth. The latter of which is why many of our clients reach out.
How can we coordinate the pelvic floor to reduce pain during sex, stop leakage, and “get back to normal”? Physical therapy helps! And, we recommend seeing a PT before getting pregnant (if possible), during, and definitely after pregnancy to properly strengthen this vital set of muscles.
Did you know?
The pelvic floor is made up of layers of muscles and other tissues
It’s shaped like a hammock, from your tailbone to your pubic bone
Exercises can help reduce the need for surgery for pelvic floor dysfunction
Passing wind from the vagina when bending over can be a sign of PFD
Pelvic floor issues can affect both men and women
If you’re experiencing chronic jaw soreness, your pelvic floor could be why
Pelvic floor work is part of strengthening your core
Doing Kegels on your own is not recommended (ask a professional - these could actually harm you!)
Pain when inserting a tampon or having sex is not considered “normal” and could be a pelvic floor issue
Overexercising your pelvic floor can also lead to problems
The pelvic floor is controlled by the brain and nervous system
Pelvic floor dysfunction can cause lower back pain
The stronger your pelvic floor… the stronger your orgasms (yes, truth!)
Lower estrogen levels can result in weakened pelvic floors
You can experience pelvic floor issues even if you had a C-section
Caffeine and alcohol can negatively affect your pelvic floor as they are diuretics and cause your kidneys to create more urine (if you can, try to switch to decaf as much as possible!)
Pelvic muscle spasms can be attributed to pelvic floor dysfunction
A frequent need to urinate could be a sign of pelvic floor dysfunction
Almost one-quarter of women face pelvic floor disorders
Women and men who are overweight or obese may have more pelvic floor issues
You can fix many, many problems associated with your pelvic floor through targeted, specific exercises and PT!
Both Lea and Katie of Klein Physical Therapy in Denver, Colorado can treat pelvic floor issues. It doesn’t have to be something you “just live with.” Life can be more enjoyable with a healthy pelvic floor. Join us in-person and virtually with pelvic floor workshops and education, as well as one-on-one sessions with either of our specialized physical therapists.