Pelvic floor contractions (or Kegels) have long been talked, but what exactly are these exercises and why do people do them?
Women and men have a network of skeletal muscles that resemble a hammock called the pelvic floor - this spans across the bottom of the pelvis between your pubic and tailbone and acts as a support system for the bladder, bowel and sexual function.
Your pelvic floor is involved in almost every move you make. It is affected by stress, pressure and hormonal changes to the muscles. These muscles contribute to various functions such as abdominal core and back strength, core stability, continence of the bladder or bowel, sexual function and blood flow.
The pelvic floor can be weak for a variety of reasons including the result of pregnancy or childbirth, menopause, chronic coughing, heavy lifting, improper breathing techniques, and constipation. A weak pelvic floor needs strengthening and tightening to rehabilitate the tissues. Similarly your pelvic floor can have increased tone and tension from holding urine or stool, childbirth, improper body mechanics and symptoms occurring with the prostate. Even doing too many kegels without being properly assessed can lead to ongoing problems. This is a common misconception many people have, assuming doing kegels helps with pelvic floor symptoms when in fact it can be contributing to ongoing pelvic floor concerns.
Increased tension and tone in the pelvic floor can lead to symptoms of bladder dysfunction, pelvic dysfunction, sexual pain, the ability to orgasm and constipation. Kegels aren't always helping you in the way you think. Not all pelvic floors are created equally, some need different strategies to address different concerns and regain proper function. Pelvic floor concerns can be helped with a combination of specific exercises and non-invasive treatments like those we offer at Sin Worthy.
Feel free to book a consultation to discuss options to address your pelvic health!
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