Physiotherapy of the pelvic floor is the discipline that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of dysfunctions produced in the pelvic area and lower abdomen.
This area is formed by a set of muscles and ligaments that close the abdominal cavity and aims to keep the internal organs in their correct position.
It is a muscle that we do not tend to pay too much attention, however, its weakness can bring us many problems that can greatly affect our quality of life.
According to studies carried out, a large proportion of middle-aged women (between 20 and 50 years old) experience or have ever experienced urine loss through physical effort or the simple act of sneezing or laughing.
As we said, this is due to the weakness of the musculature that makes up the pelvic floor area. But be careful, because it is not an exclusive problem of women, men can also suffer a variety of symptoms and related dysfunctions such as erectile dysfunction.
Thanks to a correct routine of exercises that help us strengthen the musculature of the pelvic area, we can prevent many of its symptoms.
Symptoms that may indicate weakness of the pelvic floor
- Incontinence of urine, gas and / or stools.
- Prolapses of pelvic organs
- Pelvic pain.
- Constipation.
- Urinating difficulty
- Impotence and pain or lack of sensitivity in sexual relationships.
Causes that cause it
As we said, in most cases these symptoms are caused by the weakness of the muscles found in the pelvic floor.
In women, pregnancy and childbirth are the main causes, while in men it usually manifest as a consequence of age, especially after 50 years of age.
A sedentary lifestyle, as well as a job in which we have to remain seated for long periods of time are also risk factors that lead, for example, the appearance of urinary incontinence.
In athletes is also common the appearance of these dysfunctions, especially in those who practice high impact sports, as well as running.
Between 25 and 50% of women athletes suffer from urinary incontinence
The objective of the pelvic floor physiotherapy is to strengthen, through some specific exercises, the tone and strength of the pelvic muscles helping us to prevent and / or solve the mentioned symptoms improving our quality of life.
Treatment
The first step is to assess exhaustively the behavior that the abdominal muscles can have with the pelvic floor muscles to see if there is a good management of the internal pressures of the body through the correct muscular activation of the abdominal muscles with the pelvic floor muscles.
Detecting the causes that are causing the dysfunctions (high intensity activities, bad postures, overexertion, constant pressures in the perineum or pregnancy or postpartum) will help us determine the treatment to follow.
Depending on the diagnosis, we apply the treatment in which we combine pelvic floor exercises with other hypopressive techniques that help improve lumbopelvic stability so that pelvic-level compensations do not recur.
Kegel exercises, can be performed by contracting the perineal muscles of both women and men, also help to strengthen the pelvic area. We can complement it with biofeedback to see how the exercises are performed.
Even enhancing it with electrostimulation in the musculature. Diathermy can also be helpful in cases of scarring, pelvic congestion, problems in sexuality or pelvic pain among others.
Who is it for?
- People / athletes who perform high intensity activities with overexertion that can generate incontinence, hernias, prolapses and pelvic pain.
- Men with pelvic pain, prostate problems, pudendal entrapment.
- Women who wish to rejoin to activity after childbirth.
- Adult women who notice weakness in the pelvic floor muscles when doing any activity.