YOUR HEALTH IS OUR PRIORITY
EMPOWERALASKA.COM
JANUARY 2025
| NOVEMBER 2023
Pelvic Health Prevention: Small Steps Now, Fewer Problems Later
• Support comfortable sexual function • Handle pressure when you cough, lift, run, or jump
Most people don’t think about their pelvic floor until something feels off: A bit of urinary leakage when they laugh or constipation that won’t quit. A heavy feeling in their pelvis. Pain during sex. It’s only then that they seek care. But you don’t actually have to wait until you’re dealing with difficult symptoms to start improving your pelvic health. In fact, most pelvic floor issues respond best when you address them early. And you don’t have to do it alone, either. The team at Empower PT of Alaska is always here to help. What Exactly Is the Pelvic Floor, Anyway? Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles and connective tissue that sits at the bottom of your pelvis. These muscles are all internal, meaning you can’t see them–and that leads to an “out of sight, out of mind” attitude about the pelvic floor. However, the muscles are actually crucial during your day-to-day function. They support essential organs like your bladder, bowels, prostate (in men), and uterus (in women). Every day, your pelvic floor is helping you: • Hold and release urine and stool • Stabilize your core and spine, along with your diaphragm and deep abdominal muscles
• What Happens When the Pelvic Floor Isn’t Doing Its Job? Pelvic floor dysfunction typically occurs because the muscles aren’t coordinating well with breathing and daily movement, not just because they’re weak. That breakdown in timing can show up as a range of symptoms, including: • Urinary or bowel incontinence • Pelvic pressure or heaviness • Painful intercourse • Low back, hip, or tailbone pain • Pain during or after pregnancy, or lingering symptoms months later The Importance of Early Physical Therapy in Preventing Pelvic Dysfunction While many people associate pelvic floor physical therapy with resolving dysfunction, we like to emphasize prevention at Empower PT of Alaska. This approach aims to reduce stress on the system and improve how your body manages pressure. Ultimately, we want to
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