My Pelvic What?: Meet your Pelvic Floor
After sharing with friends and family my interest in pelvic floor therapy I received a surprising number of earnest questions that inspired a post addressing what exactly the pelvis floor is..and what it’s not.
The pelvic floor is NOT:
Another word for a vagina
Only in women
A single individual structure
The pelvic floor is a series of 14-16 muscles weaved within the boundaries of all 4 sides (left, right, front, back) of both pelvic bones (iliosacral). The two bones come together at the front with a ligament called the pubis symphysis. The back attaches to the lowest part of the spine, the sacrum and coccygeal. The muscles break down into 3 layers that serve different functions, but also work together. Imagine that the smooth coordination of all of these muscles forms the image of a perfectly balanced trampoline. However, if the threads of the trampoline don’t work together, the trampoline will be too tight (lacking flexibility) or too loose (lacking strength).
For anyone who isn’t as big of an anatomy geek as I am may be thinking, “So what’s this have to do with me?”
News flash...it has to do with every single body: gender, age, ability aside
The pelvic floor (PF) controls some of the most basic human functions that allow us to go about our day and do what we want to do. When our pelvic floor is healthy and running smoothly, these activities are second nature. Someone who may have pelvic floor issues may present with incontinence, leakage, pressure in lower stomach/pelvis, constipation, or painful sex.
If you identify with any of the above symptoms please contact a local urologist, urogynecologist or a gynecologist. Pelvic floor occupational or physical therapy may be beneficial.