Shout about pelvic floor muscles
A Hidden Problem
The pelvic floor is a hidden area which we don’t often talk about. However these muscles play a vital role in bladder and bowel function, supporting our internal organs, sexual activity, breathing and posture. If they don’t work properly people can experience problems such as bladder or bowel leakage or emptying problems, severe pelvic pain and problems with sex. We know that childbirth can affect these muscles, but so can how we hold our bodies, our level of stress and even how we breathe. So we really should be talking about them a lot more that we do.
As friends, family and colleagues know I am not shy about talking about them (they may wish I was!). I’ll be doing so even more so over the next few weeks because I’ve been on an excellent advanced practical pelvic floor course this weekend, run by Irish physio Maeve Whelan. She’s an expert in the treatment of pelvic floor problems and pelvic pain and is truly inspirational. It was so great to have the opportunity to learn from her and from all of the other excellent specialist physiotherapists who attended the course and to move my practice forwards.
You are not alone!
If you are struggling with pelvic floor problems – whether it be a pelvic organ prolapse, incontinence, painful sex or difficulty emptying your bowels be sure that you are not alone in your difficulties. These problems are common. Even if your friends or family don’t speak about them it is likely that many of them are suffering in silence. For example round 9 million people, both men and women, suffer from stress urinary incontinence, with 1 in 3 women suffering from the condition.
What can be done?
One of the problems about this ‘code of silence’ about the pelvic floor is that people don’t know that effective treatment is available. Evidence shows that physiotherapy is effective for treating incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, sexual pain disorders and pelvic pain.
It can be surprising to think of physiotherapy in relation to problems like these. But your pelvic floor muscles are a vital part of your body and need to be kept fit and healthy. Physiotherapists deal with how the body functions, with balancing muscles and aiding recovery. The pelvic floor is no different.
Feel free to contact me with any queries or questions
There are specialist pelvic floor physiotherapists around the country. There will be one near where you live. They are an enthusiastic and dedicated bunch. Appropriately qualified physiotherapists will be members of the POGP (who can also help you find a physio in your area
Feel free to contact me when any queries or questions about what physiotherapy may be able to do for you.
Carolyn Lindsay
(Specialist Physio)
