Fall brings football, cooler weather (eventually), and team spirit, which reminds us a lot of the pelvic floor. Strange connection? Maybe. But hear us out: when each part of the pelvic floor team is doing its job, everything works well. But if one area is off, the whole system can feel it.
Your pelvic floor is a complex and essential part of your body that plays a role in bladder and bowel control, sexual function, and organ support. It’s made up of muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. Yep, just like a football team, they have to work together to succeed.
Meet the Players
Pelvic Floor Muscles
These layered muscles help support your organs, control bathroom habits, aid in sexual function, and move fluids from your legs to your trunk. When they’re too tight, too weak, or poorly coordinated, you may experience:
- Pelvic pain
- Trouble emptying your bladder or bowels
- Leakage or incontinence
- Pain with intimacy
The good news is that these issues are very treatable thanks to physical therapy that can help retrain the muscles.
Pudendal Nerve
This is the main nerve running through the pelvic floor. If irritated, it can cause sharp, burning, or pinching pain. Because it travels from the spinal cord through the pelvic floor to the surrounding skin, pain can show up in multiple places. Thankfully, our team can help determine the root of the problem and create a treatment plan to calm it down.
Ligaments and Connective Tissue
Structures like the sacrospinous and sacroiliac ligaments, as well as the ATLA, provide critical stability to the pelvis. If they aren’t moving well, they can contribute to pain or dysfunction.
Ready to Get Back in the Game?
At Nesin Physical Therapy, we see firsthand how interconnected the pelvic floor really is. If one part isn’t functioning properly, it can throw off the WHOLE system.
Pelvic floor dysfunction can be frustrating and even isolating, but it doesn’t have to be permanent. Our team is highly trained in assessing and treating all components of the pelvic floor because even the best teams need good coaching.
Schedule with our pelvic health team today!
Nesin Pelvic Health: Wellness Begins Here | (256) 513-8442