Pelvic health seems to be making a surge in popularity these days, and those of us passionate about women’s (and men’s) health are so pumped. However, you may be wondering “what’s the big deal?” Everyone on this earth has a pelvis. It is a crucial point of stability and support for the body and the connection between our upper and lower body parts. It houses incredibly important organs that are important for quality of life and healthy function. You may not think of urinary, bowel, or reproductive health as all that important, compared to maybe your heart or your brain, but just as we all have our own individual purpose on this earth, so does each organ of our body (particularly these ones).
I once heard someone say that the average female experiences 8 different bodies in her lifetime:
- Pre-puberty
- Puberty
- Post-puberty but pre-pregnancy
- Pregnancy
- Postpartum
- Peri-menopause
- Menopause
- Post-menopause
Whew! I’m exhausted just thinking about the changes my body is beautifully carrying me through this life. As females in particular, our hormones are constantly fluctuating throughout not only each cycle but throughout our lives. One region of the body that is directly affected by our hormones is the pelvic region. Pelvic health encompasses the whole region: muscles, nerves, bones, ligaments, organs, and circulation. Hormonal, stress, or life changes (cough cough childbirth) can all cause laxity, tightness, or strength changes.
I recommend anyone with a pelvic floor, yes so that’s everyone, to get an assessment for a basic wellness check at some point. Are there symptoms we can teach you how to manage effectively before they become a problem? Are there things you’ve been enduring thinking that those symptoms were normal? *Hint, they’re not normal. So you may be asking who needs pelvic health?
Well…..everyone really:
- Do you exercise and find it hard to lift without holding your breath?
- Have you been pregnant and/or given birth?
- Have you been peeing more frequently, having urgency, leakage?
- Are you noticing your abs have some separation? Have you noticed a bulge between your 6-pack muscles?
- Are you experiencing constipation or diarrhea or any other change in bowel health?
- Are you noticing pressure down there?
- Do you have increased stress in your life? Where do you hold that tension?
- Was there any trauma in your life that may affect your pelvic floor? As a note here: If there was, I am so sorry you had to go through that. My hope is that you find a safe place to heal and recover and I would be honored to hold that space for you.
If one of these questions, or the many others you may be asking, sounds familiar, then a pelvic health assessment is a great idea for you!
I look forward to working with you soon!