Pelvic Pain and the “OVER-ACTIVE” PELVIC FLOOR
Did you know that pelvic floor muscle strengthening is not for every woman?
Pelvic floor exercises and pelvic floor muscle strengthening are NOT for every woman. In fact, some women need to learn how to relax, rather than tighten their pelvic floor muscles. If you have ever experienced any of the following conditions or symptoms this may apply to you…
- Coccyx (tail bone) pain
- Endometriosis
- Painful, or unable to engage in, penetrative intercourse
- Difficulty, or unable to insert a tampon
- Difficulty, or unable to undergo a gynaecological examination (eg PAP smear or vaginal ultrasound)
- Slow or interrupted urine stream
- Difficulty emptying your bowel
- Pelvic pain
- Vaginal pain
- Vulval pain
- Pudendal neuralgia
- Painful bladder, or painful urethral, syndrome
- Participate/d in exercise involving high intensity “core” strengthening over a long period
- Experienced leakage of urine, despite not having been pregnant, or given birth vaginally to a baby
The only way you can find out what type of pelvic floor muscle training is appropriate for you is to make an appointment with a specially trained pelvic floor physiotherapist, who will assess your PF muscles and check their ability to both contract and relax, and determine whether they are contributing to any of your symptoms.
If it is discovered that your pelvic floor is too tight, an individual management program will be designed, which may involve stretching, lengthening and techniques aimed at relaxing, rather than strengthening your pelvic floor muscles.
Kristy Andrews – Women and Men’s Pelvic Health Physiotherapist
