The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that sit at the bottom of the pelvis. Think of them as the bottom portion of your core. Their functions include:
Support and control of the bladder, bowel, and uterus (female).
Control the bladder and bowel to prevent leakage
Sexual function
Postural control. The entire core has to work together for proper posture including the abdominals, back muscles, diaphragm, and pelvic floor muscles.
Breathing. The pelvic floor muscles ebb and flow with the diaphragm, which sits at the top portion of the core.
A dysfunction in the pelvic floor muscles may contribute to:
Urinary leakage
Pelvic heaviness
Pain with penetration
Sexual dysfunction
Low back pain
Hip Pain
Constipation
Tightness, weakness, or a combination of the two within the pelvic floor muscles can contribute to dysfunction among other things. But, as with any issues in the body, there is always a “why”!
Are these muscles compensating for a weak hip?
Is the pain coming from an issue in the low back?
Is there weakness in the lower leg that is contributing to increased stress on the pelvic floor when running?
Are you bracing your core incorrectly?
Are you using your neck muscles to breathe?
Are you lacking the proper amount of food to meet your energy needs?
The list goes on...
I get it! This can seem daunting to say the least, but pelvic floor physical therapy can help! Finding a pelvic floor physical therapist who is also well versed in general orthopedic physical therapy (ie hip, back, knee, etc) is crucial when it comes to getting to the root of the issues. PelvRx Physical Therapy can help! Click below to request a free 15-minute phone consultation with a Doctor of Physical Therapy to discuss your concerns!
For a visualization of the pelvic floor muscles, check out this video!
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