Pelvic Floor First
11 July 2011
The theme for this year's Continence Awareness week is "EXERCISE AND THE PELVIC FLOOR". It is a joint collaboration between the continence and fitness industry to promote safe exercises for the pelvic floor.
Unfortunately some exercises are harmful to your pelvic floor and can contribute to bladder and bowel problems. The aim of this awareness campaign is to reduce the number of people(men and women) who experience pelvic floor dysfunction as a result of inappropriate exercise regimes.
Many gym exercise such as high impact activities and resistance training can have a detrimental effect on the pelvic floor. "Core training", often considered to be beneficial to your pelvic floor, can also have adverse effects if the exercises are performed incorrectly.
As physiotherapists who specialise in the area of pelvic floor dysfunction we are ideally placed to provide advice on the appropriateness of your exercise regime. We can assess your pelvic floor muscle strength and give you feedback as to whether you can contract your pelvic floor muscles correctly. We will also assess your ability to contract your "core muscles" correctly using Real Time Ultrasound.
The Pelvic floor muscles support the bladder and bowel in men and the bladder, bowel and uterus in women. They also play and important role in sexual sensation and function. Your pelvic floor health is part of your vitality. Make sure you are doing the correct exercises, not just for your general health but for your pelvic floor health as well.