What is the pelvic floor?
The pelvic floor is a muscle that attaches from your tailbone to the pubic bone at the front of the pelvis. It supports your bladder, bowels and all the other pelvic contents.
What is a hypertonic (overactive) pelvic floor?
A hypertonic pelvic floor is when the pelvic floor muscles are overactive and very tight. This can affect continence, sexual function and cause pain.
What can general Physiotherapists do for an overactive pelvic floor?
General Physiotherapists can help manage simple pelvic floor dysfunctions that do not require an internal pelvic floor examination. This includes providing pelvic floor exercises and management strategies to help control and reduce symptoms. This generally has good results in reducing incontinence, referred pain and pain during intercourse.
For an overactive pelvic floor, relaxation of the pelvic floor muscle is important. This includes completing exercises such as:
- Diaphragmatic breathing which helps to focus on letting the pelvic floor relax/drop
- Pelvic floor stretches in combination with deep breathing helps to relax the pelvic floor. These stretches can include:
- Cobra stretch
- Child’s pose
- Happy baby
- Yogi pose
Referrals
For patients presenting with more complex pelvic floor symptoms that require an internal pelvic examination, you may be referred to a specialist Women’s Health Physiotherapist to ensure optimal care is provided.
