Heather Arranie 
Chances are, many people ignore their pelvic health, except when a problem arises. Like so much in life, prevention truly is better than cure. A potential complication avoided, through healthy habits and conditioning, is much easier to deal with. The same is true of pelvic floor health and wellness. Indeed, a healthy pelvic floor is the foundation for all-around core health for women and men, too. It’s necessary for reproductive health, routine bladder and bowel function, and a stable core. If pelvic health is neglected, it invariably leads to complications further down the line.
The pelvic floor is a unique part of the body, located between the pubic bone in the front and the tailbone in the back. Between these two anatomical areas is a carefully constructed group of ligaments and muscles. This latticework forms a girdle underneath the pelvic area. In women, this supports the uterus, bowel, and bladder. This region, known as the pelvic floor, is invaluable to women’s overall health and wellness. A strong pelvic floor supports the health and function of all organs in that region. It also ensures that everything functions optimally as intended.
A weak girdle of support results in abnormality and instability. This results in a malfunction. Over time, organs may shift position, become unbalanced, or function poorly. Fortunately, a dedicated exercise regimen using a smart kegel exercise tool can help restore balance, functionality, and performance. Pelvic floor muscles can weaken for a variety of reasons, but a disciplined exercise regimen can maintain optimal performance by ensuring the integrity of the girdle beneath the pelvic area. Contrary to popular opinion, the exercise regimen is non-invasive and entirely doable.
Types of Pelvic Floor Disorders
Injury or insult to the pelvic floor can result in poorly performing bodily systems. Foremost, among these areas of concern are reproductive health, sexual function, and overall health and wellness. For example, urinary and bowel performance tend to suffer from weak pelvic floor muscles. As with any system, framework, or structure, age and neglect can adversely affect performance.
For example, women who complain of frequent urination or an inability to hold urine tend to have weak pelvic floor muscles. If left untreated, this can result in urine leaking out when coughing, sneezing, laughing, moving, or during periods of excitement. It’s an inability to control the muscles in the region, via the urethra, leading to a leaky bladder.
Less flattering is the other region of the body, the anal sphincter, which may suffer from fecal incontinence. An inability to control the pelvic floor muscles can result in poor bowel function. Women routinely complain of not making it to the bathroom on time when they need to go.
All of this happens because the integrity of the pelvic floor is compromised. Weak pelvic floor muscles – through insult, injury, or neglect – cannot support the pelvic organs as they used to. When things shift around, problems begin to crop up. We see a syndrome known as pelvic organ prolapse.
All this misalignment naturally results in dysfunction. It’s not the person’s fault for being unable to control their urine, bowel movements, or natural bodily functions. But it is possible to take control through disciplined pelvic health exercises. Sometimes, pelvic floor disorders have roots in specific conditions that result from childhood defects. Other times, things like aging and obesity play a part.
A hysterectomy can undoubtedly affect the integrity of the pelvic floor, and care and attention are needed to correct these types of problems. It’s important to understand that pelvic floor disorders are not limited to women, although they are primarily the beneficiaries of things like kegel exercise tools and similar exercise regimens. Prostate surgery in men can adversely affect the pelvic floor, too, particularly the area around the perineum.
Simple Pelvic Floor Exercises You Can Perform at Home
Fitness coaches are not needed to strengthen your pelvic floor at home. Some people prefer a physical therapist, gynecologist, or urologist to assist them with these routines, but anyone can strengthen the pelvic muscles at home. It all begins with pelvic floor exercises.
Locate the pelvic floor muscles and gently massage them for strengthening purposes. Experts recommend sets of daily treatments to enjoy the non-surgical benefits.
Of course, there are also medical treatments and options, including surgical correction for organ prolapse. Luckily, medication, regular training, and pessary devices present as highly effective non-surgical treatments for pelvic health.
