Prevention, Treatment and Exercising the Pelvic Floor?
How Can I Prevent Pelvic Floor Problems?
1. Physical Activity and Healthy Eating
Staying active and eating a balanced diet helps keep your pelvic floor muscles strong and supports overall health.
- For guidance during pregnancy, see NHS advice on exercise and healthy diet
2. Maintaining a Healthy Weight
Keeping a healthy weight can reduce pressure on your pelvic floor muscles.
- For guidance during pregnancy, see NHS advice on overweight and pregnancy
3. Managing Constipation
Straining to go to the toilet can weaken pelvic floor muscles over time. Prevent constipation by eating a high-fibre diet, drinking plenty of water, and staying active.
- For guidance, see NHS advice on constipation
How Can I Manage Pelvic Floor Problems?
There are different ways to treat pelvic floor problems, depending on your symptoms and needs.
The first and most recommended approach is supervised pelvic floor muscle exercises, sometimes called “Kegel exercises.” These exercises help strengthen the muscles that support your bladder, bowel, and reproductive organs.
Other treatments may include lifestyle changes, physiotherapy, or in some cases, medical interventions. A healthcare professional can help decide the best plan for you.
Other Ways to Support Your Pelvic Floor
1. Pelvic Floor Exercises
Exercises that help your pelvic floor muscles get stronger, last longer under pressure, improve power, relax properly, or a combination of these.
2. Physical Activity
Activities like yoga, Pilates, walking, or swimming can help overall muscle strength, including the pelvic floor.
3. Intravaginal Devices or Pessaries
Removable devices that support the pelvic organs and reduce urine leakage.
4. Bladder Training
A type of behaviour therapy where you gradually increase the time between toilet visits. This helps you gain better control over your bladder.
5. Other Conservative Treatments
Some other treatments have been shown to strengthen pelvic floor muscles and reduce symptoms:
- Electrical or Magnetic Stimulation – Gentle energy sent to pelvic floor muscles to help them activate, improve nerve signals, and reduce issues like leakage or pelvic pain.
- Biofeedback – Using visual or sound signals to show how your pelvic floor muscles are working, helping you learn to control them better.
- Diaphragmatic (Deep) Breathing – Slow, deep breaths that teach you to relax and lengthen your pelvic floor muscles.
- Manual Therapy – Hands-on techniques from a trained therapist to help relax and strengthen the muscles.
Further Reading / Research:
Cochrane Review on Pelvic Floor Muscle Training
This content is based on guidance from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). It has been summarised and rephrased for informational purposes only. For the full, official guidelines, please visit the NICE website at https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng210/chapter/Recommendations#preventing-pelvic-floor-dysfunction
Note: Certain terminology has been adapted to ensure age appropriateness.