Most women may have heard the term pelvic floor from their gynecologist when discussing muscle pain without really understanding what it means. Those who may think it’s literal in its meaning might be sorely mistaken.

A pelvic floor refers to the muscles and ligaments from the pubic bone that are supporting everything above it. Both men and women have a pelvic floor, and it’s critical to maintain its good condition to avoid any complications. Here’s a short guide to help you learn more about a pelvic floor.

What Is the Purpose of a Pelvic Floor?

As stated above, a pelvic floor acts as a support system. Located at the frontal bottom of your body and connected to either side of the tailbone, the pelvic floor holds up most of the internal organs. For men, it usually holds the bladder and their bowel system. For women, it’s roughly the same, but there’s also a passageway for the urethra, birth canal, and more.

Pelvic floor muscles are very involved when a woman is undergoing childbirth. During the process, the muscles start to stretch under the pressure of pushing a baby to pass through. Labour can use the much-needed support that the pelvic floor can provide.

Another key purpose of the pelvic floor that applies to anyone is that it helps with breath coordination and engagement when physically moving. The pelvic floor also helps with your excretory system, controlling the release of urine, feces, or flatus.

What Is the Ideal Condition of a Pelvic Floor?

We can fully classify the pelvic floor as an essential part of the body. The pelvic floor is deemed healthy when it’s able to adapt to a lot of pressure, as well as provide strength and support when undergoing strenuous activities. Athletes may focus on this when they want their fitness and posture to be much more ideal.

The regular movement of a healthy pelvic floor is when the sacroiliac joints, which connect the pelvis and lower spine, can move in any direction. Whether it’s jutting in a certain direction or rotating, the muscles should be able to move in a fluid movement.

However, in some events such as pregnancy, the pelvic floor may weaken shortly after it. This is also a separate case from pelvic floor disorders, which can lead to incontinence and trouble controlling one’s bowel.

Is It Possible to Train a Pelvic Floor to Be Healthier?

There are some ways to make the pelvic floor stronger and flexible to properly support the bowel system. One effective way is to concentrate for a muscle to undergo concentric and eccentric contractions. Speak to a physiotherapy practitioner who will guide you on how to carry this out safely.

There’s also a set of exercises that you can try out to help your pelvic floor muscles strengthen. Squats are fundamental in order to help the pelvic floor muscles and surrounding bones in that area gain more strength. People can also try out the Lumbar Imprint and Cat-Cow under the supervision of an expert.

Conclusion

Learning more about the pelvic floor can help people gain more awareness about their body and the importance of specific muscles. Prevent undergoing any health problems related to the pelvic floor by strengthening it today.

Searching for pelvic floor physiotherapy in Calgary, NW? Centre Street Physiotherapy & Wellness Clinic provides manual therapy, rehabilitation, and other services. Get in touch with us today!