What is it? The pelvic floor consists of the muscles that make up the base of the pelvis providing support for all our pelvic organs and is found in both males and females.
What does it do? The pelvic floor provides support to carry our pelvic organs, as well as control the sphincters for both our bowel and bladder movements. It contributes to our sexual function and is a key component in stabilization and support of the spine as part of our deep core.
Why you should talk about it! When the pelvic floor is not functioning properly, it can result in many complications for both men and women. It may present as sensitive issues such as bowel and bladder incontinence, or pain and dysfunction during intercourse. It can also contribute to common orthopedic complaints such as low back pain, groin pain, and hip pain. What’s important to know is that you don’t have to live with these issues, you can take control of them. Just like any other muscles in the body, muscles that make up the pelvic floor can be trained.
The muscles of the pelvic floor, in conjunction with the deep core, should turn on to provide stabilization for the spine before we perform any voluntary movements. When these muscles are not activating at the right time, it can result in things like low back pain when lifting, hip pain when walking, and leakage when running. By learning to activate these muscles properly, we can reduce and eliminate these symptoms. Talk to your physical therapist today to start taking back control of your body!
For more information on activating the muscles of the deep core visit: http://activebodypilates.com/pdf/core.pdf