Let’s talk about the pelvic floor. It’s not really dinner table talk and often isn’t discussed in our youth but somewhere between our teens and later life this muscle will come up in conversation at many points.
For some the pelvic floor muscle can be tight, yes contrary to belief some women suffer from a pelvic floor muscle that works over time this can cause discomfort during sex. But for the majority of the time women in particular suffer from a weak pelvic floor muscle, which often has discussions around LBL (light bladder leakage). When the pelvic floor is weakened, most often after child birth, we can end up with leaking urine during exercise as the muscle isn’t able to support the organs it is holding inside our pelvis. LBL is most common in women and can be treated. The outcomes from treatment are better when treatment starts early, however we can do a little bit each day to help support and strengthen our pelvic floor and keep LBL at bay.
Strong core, strong pelvic floor!
Here’s how Pilates can help with your pelvic floor:
- Improved pelvic floor muscle strength: Pilates exercises often emphasise proper alignment and stabilisation of the core, which can help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. This can be particularly beneficial for those who have weakened pelvic floor muscles due to pregnancy, childbirth, aging, or other factors.
- Increased pelvic floor muscle flexibility: In addition to strength, Pilates exercises can also help improve flexibility and range of motion in the pelvic floor muscles. This can be helpful for those who have tight or tense pelvic floor muscles, which can lead to discomfort.
- Better pelvic floor awareness: Pilates exercises often require a high level of mind-body connection and focus on proper breathing techniques, which can help improve awareness and control of the pelvic floor muscles. This can be beneficial for those who struggle with incontinence or other pelvic floor issues.
- Reduced pelvic pain: Some Pilates exercises can help release tension in the pelvic floor and surrounding muscles, which can be helpful for those who experience pelvic pain or discomfort.
- Improved posture and alignment: Pilates exercises often focus on proper alignment and posture, which can help alleviate pressure on the pelvic floor muscles and reduce the risk of pelvic floor dysfunction.
Hopefully with better awareness of pelvic floor dysfunction we can reduce the stigma and lack of discussion around such a common condition suffered daily by women and break down barriers that may be holding you back from getting back to doing the things you love!
Article thanks to Dr Nicole Lawler - Chiropractor & Pilates Instructor