Physical Therapy Blog

We often focus on exercise, diet, and mental health when maintaining overall well-being. However, a crucial body component deserves equal attention: the pelvic floor. The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that forms a supportive hammock-like structure at the base of the pelvis. One effective way to ensure the health of these muscles is through Kegel exercises. Our pelvic floor specialists at EW Motion Therapy can incorporate Kegels into your exercise program as appropriate to help strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. Even if pelvic floor physical therapy isn’t what you’re looking for, you can still read on as we explore what Kegels are, their benefits and potential risks, how they contribute to pelvic floor health, and how they are used in pelvic floor physical therapy.

Whenever you’re working out, there are probably a few different thoughts going through your mind. You’re trying to remember which rep you’re on, which muscles need to tighten with the exercise you’re doing, and probably thinking about what else you need to get done after your workout. For some athletes, especially women, a constant thought during exercise is whether they are leaking or not. But why can urinary leakage be such a problem during exercise? What can you do to help?

Think about what goes through your mind when you wake up with a large zit on your face. Zits can be annoying, slightly painful, and, most of all, embarrassing. Even though acne is a common skin condition, no one really wants to face the world with a large zit on their face. The desire to forego responsibilities due to embarrassment is called fear avoidance. For those struggling with stress incontinence, fear avoidance is real. You may fear going out in public, exercising, and more due to your dysfunctional pelvic floor. So what can you do about it? Are there solutions that can give you your life back?

If you have a history of pain or pressure in your lower abdomen or lower back, you could be suffering from pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Depending on your prolapse stage, the condition can affect your daily life. Who should you go to for help? And what are your treatment options?

Many people agree that some medical conditions are easier to talk about than others. Whether you have diabetes or osteoporosis, or mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, it can be helpful to seek comfort among a community of individuals who also struggle with your condition. On the other hand, some conditions are harder, and more embarrassing, to bring up in conversation. Most people would probably count incontinence as one of these. Even though the condition is so widespread, many people do not seek the help they need due to the embarrassment of having to discuss the condition with someone. But it is vital to seek help to maintain the health of your pelvic floor.

Many people are unsure if or when they should begin medical treatment. Unless you know exactly what you need, it can be stressful trying to find which provider can best treat your condition. So when you are experiencing pain or a lack of mobility, it can be difficult to decide who you should seek out.