“Just do Kegels… that should help.” Have you heard this advice before when sharing your pelvic floor hardships? Kegels are commonly seen by friends, family members and even medical professionals as a be-all and end-all solution for pelvic floor issues. In some instances, yes, they may be onto something; however, Kegels are only one small tool available when tackling pelvic health issues.
What are Kegels?
Kegels are simple, discreet exercises used in pelvic floor muscle training that can help strengthen the muscles that support the bladder, bowel and uterus. They involve lifting and engaging the pelvic floor muscles, as if trying to stop the flow of urine, to increase pelvic muscle strength.
Kegels can provide relief with mild urinary leakage, postpartum muscle weakness and reduce pelvic organ prolapse symptoms caused by muscle weakness. But what if muscle weakness isn’t the only problem?
What if you are experiencing tenderness? Painful intercourse? Difficulty fully emptying your bladder? Or if pelvic muscles feel too tight? If these sound familiar, then Kegels may not be the answer, and additional support may be needed. For these symptoms, and even those in which Kegels can support, pelvic floor physical therapy may be the answer you are looking for!
What is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
Pelvic floor physical therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy that focuses on the function and coordination of the pelvic floor muscles as part of your larger movement system. Although the pelvic region is the primary focus, pelvic floor physical therapy also assesses how your entire body is functioning and provides a more comprehensive approach to addressing symptoms.
At Poised Pelvic Society, Dr. Britta Anderson takes the time to complete thorough examinations with her patients including core coordination, posture, breathing patterns and stabilization. By performing these assessments and discussing lifestyle factors that may impact your symptoms, Dr. Anderson can help you discover the root of larger problems and deliver personalized care to provide relief.
To sum it up…
Kegels alone are just one tool in a large toolbox that can be important to a person’s healing and/or strengthening journey; however, to build and strengthen the foundation of your pelvic floor, pelvic floor physical therapy can provide the whole toolbox.
If interested in learning more about how Poised Pelvic Society can assist in ways that Kegels cannot, we encourage you to contact us and schedule discovery call!
For more pelvic health education and support follow @PoisedPelvicSociety on social media platforms.
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