Why You Should Care About Your Pelvic Floor
The pelvic floor muscles are vital to our most fundamental functions: peeing, pooping, and sex. Not only are these functions tied to our physical wellbeing, but they also play a huge role in our mental and emotional wellbeing. When we develop dysfunction in these areas, it can be extremely difficult to talk about, even with our closest friends, much less the doctor who only spends 15 minutes with you and makes you feel rushed at every visit.
The pelvic floor muscles can also be pain generators. Weakness, lack of mobility, or tightness in your pelvic floor muscles can contribute to hip, back, or tailbone pain. Trigger points can develop in your pelvic floor muscles that can refer pain elsewhere. We also need well-functioning pelvic floors for our daily activities (bending, lifting, picking up kids, doing laundry) and for staying healthy and active (whether that’s walking around the block or competing in athletic competitions).
The pelvic floor muscles make a sling, literally at the floor of your core, and attach from your pubic bone to your tailbone. Here’s a brief rundown of the pelvic floor’s primary functions:
Stability – pelvic floor muscles provide stability for dynamic movements like walking, running, and jumping as well as for lifting and carrying heavy things.
Support – think of the pelvic floor muscles like a hammock or a trampoline that supports all the organs above it.
Sphincter Control – pelvic floor muscles surround the urethra and rectum. These muscles keep everything in when it’s not time to go, and they have to release when it is time to go.
Sexual Function – sexual function is complex! But the summary version is that PFMs have to relax to enjoy penetrative intercourse, and they have to rhythmically contract and relax to achieve orgasm.
If you’re concerned that you may have something wrong in any of these areas, it’s important to reach out to a pelvic healthy provider. At Restore, we will never let you leave feeling dismissed, rushed, or confused. We provide a safe and judgment-free space for you to talk about any of these issues and ask any questions you may have.
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