Why is Pelvic Floor strength so important?
By: Emma Bromley
Think of the pelvic floor as a hammock that holds all of your internal organs in place. In women it also supports the uterus and it’s made up of ligaments, connective tissue and muscle that attaches to the inside of the pelvis.
A weakened pelvic floor can be the cause of all sorts of uncomfortable consequences ranging from leaking when you run, jump or laugh, to pelvic organ prolapse (you’d feel a heaviness or a bearing down sensation in your vagina). A strong pelvic floor on the other hand, is necessary for optimum sexual function.
There are several reasons why the pelvic floor can become weak, but I am just now learning about the impact of collagen and the effect it has not only on keeping the skin firm and fresh, but also on the muscles and keeping them resilient and strong, and that includes the pelvic floor. As we age, the body’s ability to produce and retain collagen diminishes, which is why us older mamas (wink) have to work much harder than the younger mamas to keep our pelvic floors functioning optimally, especially during pregnancy when the uterus becomes much heavier.
There are also so many reasons why we want to prioritize our pelvic health both during and after pregnancy. Besides what i mentioned above, a weak pelvic floor can cause urinary and/or bowel incontinence, dysfunctional labor, low back and/or intercourse pain, bladder and/or uterine prolapse, diastasis (commonly known as the ‘mummy tummy’) and therefore lack of confidence.
Besides taking 5 minutes a day to do my Pelvic Floor Training, here are some other steps you can take to ensure optimal pelvic floor health:
- Eat plenty of fiber-rich foods to prevent straining during bowel movements
- Drink plenty of water to maintain a healthy urinary flow
- Sit less, walk more
- Get help for a chronic cough
In the next post I’ll be talking about why I no longer teach kegels, so stay tuned!
Emma xo
Bio:
Emma Bromley is a Pilates Instructor, Pelvic Floor Specialist and best-selling author of The Pelvic Floor. After struggling with a severe diastasis (abdominal separation) following the birth of her child, Emma refused to believe that surgery was the only option to heal. Having now fully healed through the power of intentional movement and the breath, she’s now passionate about sharing her knowledge with others so that you too can experience the freedom that comes with having a healthy pelvic floor (less leaking, less back pain, more functional workouts, more enjoyable sex etc).
Free pelvic floor training:
