How Important Is Your Pelvic Floor in Everyday Life?

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that form a hammock-like structure at the bottom of the pelvis. These muscles play a crucial role in our daily lives, including bladder and bowel control, sexual function, and support of our internal organs. Despite their importance, many people are unaware of the significance of their pelvic floor function and the negative consequences that can result from pelvic floor dysfunction. In this blog, we will explore the importance of pelvic floor function in our daily lives and what we can do to maintain it. 

Here are a few functions of the pelvic floor: 

Control: 

First and foremost, the pelvic floor muscles are responsible for controlling the bladder and bowel. When these muscles contract and relax in coordination, they allow us to hold and release urine and feces at the appropriate time. However, when the pelvic floor muscles are weak, tight or dysfunctional, we may experience urinary or fecal incontinence, difficulty emptying the bladder or bowel, or frequent urges to urinate. These symptoms can greatly impact our quality of life, leading to embarrassment, social isolation, and even depression. 

Sexual function: 

In addition to urinary and bowel control, the pelvic floor muscles are also critical for sexual function. These muscles support the genitalia, and when they contract during orgasm, they can enhance sexual pleasure. However, when the pelvic floor muscles are weak or damaged, sexual dysfunction can occur, leading to decreased sexual satisfaction and potentially damaging relationships. 

Support: 

The pelvic floor muscles also play a role in supporting our internal organs, including the bladder, uterus, and rectum. When the pelvic floor muscles are weak, these organs can prolapse, or descend into the vaginal or rectal canal. This can cause discomfort, pain, and difficulty with bowel or bladder function.

Stability: 

The pelvic floor also helps with stabilizing our back and pelvic girdle. While the pelvic floor muscles are essential for maintaining our health and well-being, they are often overlooked in our daily lives. Many people are unaware of how to properly engage and strengthen their pelvic floor muscles, leading to weakness and dysfunction. 

Risk factors for pelvic floor dysfunction include: 

• Pregnancy and childbirth 
• Obesity 
• Chronic coughing 
• Chronic constipation 
• Aging 
• Family history of pelvic floor dysfunction 
• Smoking 

Physiotherapists require advanced training to have the necessary skills needed to assess your pelvic floor through internal palpation. Accordingly your physiotherapist can create a treatment plan if necessary depending upon the state of your pelvic floor. 

Are we supposed to do Kegel’s or No Kegel’s? 

Kegel exercises are not indicated for everyone, it depends upon the tone of your pelvic floor. ‘Tone’ is the amount of tension in muscles. 

Increase in muscle tone (hypertonicity) in the pelvic floor could lead to tightness in the area contributing to symptoms of chronic pelvic pain, urge incontinence, pain with intercourse. 

Decrease in muscle tone (hypotonicity) in the pelvic floor could lead to weakness contributing to symptoms of incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. 

Sometimes, there could be a combination of muscles that are too tense and too relaxed.

Kegel’s are not always indicated and could aggravate your symptoms. Physiotherapists can determine if you need to do Kegel or Reverse Kegel (relaxation of pelvic floor) by doing a pelvic floor examination. 

Research concludes that Pelvic floor Physiotherapists should be included in treatments related to pelvic floor dysfunction. Exact state of your pelvic floor is determined by doing an internal palpation/evaluation. This assessment is gentle and not meant to be painful.