5 reasons to strengthen your pelvic floor

The pelvic floor is an important group of muscles located at the base of the pelvis. Both men and women can benefit from strengthening these muscles. Here are five reasons to practice pelvic floor exercises.

1. Prevent incontinence
Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles can give you more control over your bladder and bowel and help prevent incontinence.

2. Improve sexual sensitivity
A healthy pelvic floor can increase sexual arousal and lubrication, making it easier to reach orgasm. Additionally, having strong pelvic muscles can prevent painful intercourse.

3. Maintain good posture
If your pelvic floor is too loose or too tight, you may experience lower back and sciatic nerve pain during pregnancy. Moreover, having a healthy pelvic floor can help speed up recovery after giving birth.

4. Recover quicker after surgery
If you recently had a hysterectomy or prostatectomy, doing pelvic floor exercises can help ease a variety of postoperative symptoms, including loose abdominal muscles, organ prolapse, and urinary incontinence.

5. Prevent pain
Strong pelvic floor muscles can help reduce the discomfort associated with bladder pain syndrome (BPS) and constipation. In addition, doing regular pelvic floor exercises can reduce tenderness and numbness while riding a bike.

Consult a perineal and pelvic rehabilitation physiotherapist to start a personalized exercise program.