Regular pelvic floor exercise would give many women a new lease on life. Did you know that 1 in 3 women are affected by pelvic floor weakness and imbalance?

For various reasons, the pelvic floor can be overstretched, torn or lax and lose its tone.  Thus, the muscles, tendons and ligaments are weakened, which can lead to decreased strength, flexibility and balance. When this occurs the pelvic floor muscles can no longer properly support a woman’s  organs (bladder, uterus, rectum). Structural imbalances can occur which can lead to abdominal and back pain, incontinence and compromised sexual function.

Weak or Imbalanced pelvic core muscles can lead to:

1. Urinary/stress incontinence
2. Lower back pain/abdominal pain
3. Diminished sexual desire
4. Painful sex
5. Sagging bladder, uterus and rectum that are not supported by STRONG pelvic core muscles

Female incontinence (also known as stress incontinence) is when one leaks urine when there is extra pressure on the bladder such as during a sneeze or a cough, exercise or heavy lifting. Stress incontinence is a common condition that women experience.

The onset of “leakage” may be common, but it’s not normal. This embarrassing problem is often gradual and kept secret. It is the beginning of what could be a downward spiral to loss of bladder control, as well as loss of self respect that many women are not aware.

Pelvic floor exercise is an easy solution to problems associated with pelvic weakness and that many women are not aware. Female incontinence is brought about by an overall weakness in the pelvic floor muscles; the most obvious cause is pregnancy and childbirth, but there are other factors to be taken into account.

Causes of Pelvic Muscle Weakness:

1. Childbirth, C-section, episiotomy
2. Peri-menopause / menopause
3. Aging
4. Inactivity (physical/sexual)
5. Chronic coughing
6. Obesity
7. Diets high in processed foods
8. Smoking

Many women share this secret. There is no need to suffer in silence. Women face this challenge in all walks of life including Health Professionals, Executives, Athletes and Moms. Pelvic muscle weakness can take a heavy toll on a woman’s sex life and even affect the quality of her relationship.

What is the Pelvic Floor?

The pelvic floor muscles are the foundation for what is known as the “core” of the body. They provide stability for the pelvis, and they support the lower abdominal organs, such as the bladder, uterus and rectum.

The pelvic floor muscles are like a web of interrelated muscles, tendons and ligaments that form a supportive foundation at the base of the pelvis. One of these muscles, the pubococcygeus, also known as the “PC muscle,” encircles the openings for the urethra, vagina, and rectum. Exercising this muscle is often referred to as Kegels.

When the pelvic floor muscles become weak or damaged, the openings in the pelvic area can become damaged and impaired. If the pelvic floor muscles are weak, and don’t work together with other muscles of the abdomen and back, the body can become unbalanced, leading to abdominal and back pain, as well as patterns of compensation throughout the body.

As you can see, pelvic floor exercise is important to maintain the health of the whole body and to avoid such uncomfortable conditions as female incontinence. Regular and specific pelvic floor exercises contribute to overall feminine health and fitness.

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3. Feminine Fitness Self-Care Gifts for Health & Vitality
4. Belly Tone & Pelvic Floor Exercise
5. Health Secrets Women Should Share