About half of all women who have given birth experience some form of pelvic floor problems. Despite this, we talk very little about it.
Pelvic floor dysfunction is a collective term for several different issues; stress urinary incontinence, urge incontinence, overactive bladder, prolapse, reduced intimate satisfaction, and anal incontinence.
It is much more common than you might think.
The pelvic floor is a central part of the body, not only for maintaining continence but for our overall stability and function.
It is a group of muscles that support our internal organs – the uterus, bladder, and intestines – and help us control both urinary and bowel functions.
When it works as it should, we don’t think about it. When it doesn’t, it can cause problems, such as incontinence. Just like other muscles in the body, the pelvic floor needs to be trained and given the right conditions to function.
The problem is that many have never really been taught how to activate it or what actually affects it.
Many don’t know that the pelvic floor is connected to breathing and the nervous system. When you breathe, the pelvic floor should naturally move up and down together with the diaphragm, our largest breathing muscle.
If you breathe shallowly, hold in your stomach, or are stressed, this interaction is disrupted. Then the pressure in the body is misplaced, and the pelvic floor has to work harder than it should, or you may lose connection. That’s why just doing Kegel exercises isn’t always enough.
Why do so many have problems?
Usually, it’s not just one cause. Pregnancy and childbirth are common causes. Muscles and tissues stretch, and sometimes nerves are affected as well.
But it’s important to know that problems can arise even if you have never given birth. With age, muscles weaken if we don’t train them.
Another common problem is constant downward pressure in the abdomen. This can be due to constipation, heavy lifting, exercise, or holding in the stomach. The body is not designed for that pressure all the time.
Exercise can also be wrong if the foundation isn’t there. Jumping, running, and heavy lifting put demands on the pelvic floor. If it can’t keep up, it becomes overloaded.
Many believe they are doing Kegel exercises correctly but activate the wrong muscles. That’s why so many don’t see results despite doing Kegel exercises.
There are effective ways to train the pelvic floor today
With a non-invasive Kegel chair, the muscles work automatically, deeply, without you having to think about technique. A bonus is that blood circulation improves and the entire pelvic floor area is trained. Many with lower back problems experience improvement.
For many, there is a clear difference after just a few treatments. Better connection and a feeling of finding the muscles again.
Many people I meet experience various forms of incontinence and describe the same thing: constant worry and always needing to know where the nearest toilet is. What often happens when control starts to return is a regained sense of freedom. A security and getting your life back.
Regardless of the cause, the most important thing to know is that you don’t have to accept problems as something “normal” you just have to live with. The body has a strong ability to recover, especially when it gets the right support.
It needs a plan tailored to your specific situation and needs.
With the right knowledge and the right type of training, it is often possible to improve both function and quality of life.
