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Meet your pelvic floor: the unsung hero of your core
Let’s talk about a group of muscles that are incredibly important but often misunderstood. Maybe you experience that frustrating little bit of leaking urine when you sneeze, cough or jump. Or perhaps you’re dealing with nagging back pain during pregnancy that nothing seems to fix. Many people experience these issues, but far too few know they are treatable.
The common link? Your pelvic floor.
At our physiotherapy clinic, we believe knowledge is power. The first step to solving a problem is understanding it. So, let’s pull back the curtain on the pelvic floor and discover why seeing a specialized pelvic and pelvic floor physio can be a game-changer for everyone.
What Exactly Is the Pelvic Floor?
Imagine a muscular hammock or sling that stretches from your pubic bone at the front to your tailbone at the back. That, in essence, is your pelvic floor. This intelligent network of muscles, ligaments, and connective tissue forms the"floor" of your pelvis, and its health is fundamental to our daily function.
More than just a hammock: the key roles of your pelvic floor
The pelvic floor is a master multi-tasker. Here are its main roles:
- Support: it holds up your pelvic organs (bladder, bowels, and uterus).
- Sphincteric control: this is what keeps you continent. When the muscles can't handle pressure, it can lead to leaking urine when you sneeze, cough, or jump.
- Sexual function: a well-coordinated pelvic floor is vital for comfortable and pleasurable sexual function. When these muscles are too tight or painful, it can be a primary cause of pain during sex.
- Stability: The pelvic floor is the foundation of your core. It works with your diaphragm and deep abdominal muscles (transverse abdominal muscle) to stabilize your spine. When this system is disrupted, especially after pregnancy, it can contribute to issues like lower back pain.
When the team player goes rogue: pelvic floor dysfunction
"Dysfunction"simply means the muscles aren’t working optimally. This typically falls into one of two categories:
- The underactive (hypotonic) pelvic floor: when the muscles are too weak. This is a common cause of stress incontinence and feelings of pelvic heaviness (prolapse).
- The overactive (hypertonic) pelvic floor: when the muscles are too tight and can't relax. This can lead to pelvic pain, urinary urgency, and is often a driver behind pain during sex (dyspareunia).
The solution: it's not always about more kegels
The biggest myth in pelvic health is that kegels are the answer to everything. If your problem is an overactive, tight pelvic floor, more squeezing will only make it worse.
The true solution starts with a proper assessment. We need to determine what your pelvic floor is doing.
- If your muscles are weak, we will teach you effective strengthening exercises, like proper pelvic floor exercises for pregnancy or targeted postpartum core exercises.
- If your muscles are tight, our focus will be on relaxation and release to restore normal function.
A specialized pelvic and pelvic floor physiotherapist can help you manage a wide range of conditions, from providing effective pregnancy treatment for PGP to creating a safe plan for your return to running after birth. Whether you need a dedicated pelvic floor physiotherapist to address concerns like diastasis recti (sometimes called 'mummy tummy') or you simply want to feel strong and confident in your body again, a personalized approach is key.
Your first step to a healthier pelvic floor
Pelvic floor issues are incredibly common, but they are not something you have to live with. Seeing a pelvic and pelvic floor physiotherapist for pelvic pain or incontinence should be as normal as seeing one for a sore knee.
So, if you’ve been searching online for a “pelvic floor physiotherapist near me,” your search can end here at EBP Studio, Amsterdam. A trained professional can provide a confidential, respectful assessment and create a plan to get your pelvic floor working as the strong, responsive, and reliable team player it was meant to be.
