It’s a scenario that a lot of people deal with on a daily basis: a quick sneeze, and you need to make a trip to the bathroom. You laugh...and you realize you’ve had an accident. You chalk it up to aging–after all, isn’t this to be expected?
Maybe it’s feeling more serious. You’ve been dealing with pelvic or lower abdominal pain, but can’t figure out why. You are not alone! On average 25 million adults in the United States are dealing with some form of urinary incontinence. 20% of adults have chronic pelvic pain without a diagnosis. 1 in 3 women over the age of 18 will report pelvic floor dysfunction in their lifetime. These are growing statistics.
Not only is there a lack of awareness for a specialized area of physical therapy known as Pelvic Floor or Pelvic Health, but also myths centered around daily symptoms that get deemed normal due to life events or the aging process. In no world should we be laughing off peeing our pants. Just because something is common, does not mean it is normal or something that can’t be changed.
So what exactly is pelvic health? Most of us have had an injury to our body and may have seen a Physical Therapist for evaluation and treatment. Physical Therapists work with different muscles and tissues throughout the body. Pelvic Floor Physical Therapists specialize in working with the muscles and tissues in the pelvic region.
If you were to put your hands on top of your hips and walk your fingers down to the front of your pelvis, you’d find your pubic bone. If you put your hands on your lower back and walk your fingers down you’d find a triangle bone called your sacrum leading to your tailbone. The muscles connecting your pubic bone to your sacrum and tailbone are known as your pelvic floor and do far more in our bodies then they get credit for. After all, they are supporting all our organs from the bottom.
Pelvic Health involves working with the bladder, bowels, and reproductive organs. Your pelvic floor muscles are crucial in the function and management of these different systems. One myth we can debunk is that pelvic floor therapy is just for women who’ve had babies. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. Whether or not you’ve been pregnant, are suffering with urinary issues, dealing with constipation, tailbone pain, chronic pelvic pain, or just had your prostate removed, you will benefit from seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist. Gender does not matter. When something goes wrong in the bladder, bowel, and reproductive department,
symptoms go far beyond the physical. Issues in these areas can affect your overall well-being including emotional, social, and sexual health. Stress can affect your pelvic floor health. A previous injury can affect your pelvic health.
If you’ve been dealing with problems or are wanting to be proactive about your pelvic health, Pelvic Floor Physical Therapists will help you identify the source of your issue so you can find long lasting relief and get back to the activities you love and enjoy without limitations.
- Kaydee Zimmern
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