Silver Cross Therapists Encourage Greater Awareness of Pelvic Health

Mention Kegels, and many people think of new moms doing pelvic floor exercises after childbirth.

Yet the often-overlooked pelvic muscles affect far more than pregnancy recovery. For both women and men, a strong pelvic floor can be the key to better bladder control, improved core strength and a healthier quality of life, says Beth Leonard, PT, CLT-LANA, a physical therapist, and Jastine Sahota, OTR/L, PCES, CYT, an occupational therapist with the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox.

“Anyone with reproductive organs, uterus, bladder, rectum, that all sit in the pelvis, need those things functioning well for activities of daily living like toileting, sexual health and even stabilizing the body,” Sahota said.

“And so, maintaining pelvic health, regardless of what age you’re at, really matters in terms of your quality of life. It helps us move well, helps us empty our bowels well, and it also helps us feel fulfilled when we have a healthy working pelvic floor.”

A Common Issue with Many Causes

While most of their patients may have concerns related to urinary incontinence, urinary urgency, pelvic pain, constipation, or postpartum issues or prevention, “everyone who has a pelvis is going to be at risk for pelvic health issues,” Leonard said.

Myriad issues can cause pelvic health problems, including age, because the pelvic area is so crucial to the body’s core.

The Pelvic Floor: A Key Part of the Body’s Core

“So, we’ve heard of our abdominals as being part of our core, but actually there’s more to it than that,” Leonard said. “There’s abdominals, there’s our diaphragm, there’s our back muscles. And then, also at the bottom of what we call a core canister is the pelvic floor.

“It interacts with everything we do, whether we’re walking, lifting, pushing, pulling. Everything we’re doing throughout the day, it has to support our pelvic organs. So, that’s part of our core, and it’s very important throughout the day.”

Kegels are Helpful, but Not for Everyone

Kegels, named after the late American gynecologist Dr. Arnold Kegel, may be one way to treat pelvic issues, Leonard and Sahota said. But it’s not for everyone.

“We take a full-body approach in assessing pelvic issues,” Sahota said. “We look at posture, muscle coordination, breath coordination; even lifestyle habits, like are you drinking enough water? Do you have a lot of anxiety or stress that could be contributing to your pain?

“We also do, with consent, a manual assessment of the pelvic floor structures of the muscles and see if they are tight, hypertonic, if they are weak, hypotonic, if there’s any tender spots, and also checking for coordination along the way.”

Why Breathing Plays a Critical Role

Leonard said they’ll also be watching every breath you take.

“When we move, we have to coordinate our breath. The majority of people I see hold their breath when they’re doing things: lifting, pushing, pulling. Even the elderly when they get up from a chair or lie down in bed,” she explained. “And when we hold our breath, we increase what’s called the intra-abdominal pressure, and that pressure can put pelvic pressure on our pelvic floor. That can cause the pelvic floor to weaken, leading to leakage and prolapse. Breathwork is super important when it comes to the pelvic floor.”

Education is an Essential Part of Treatment

Following the initial evaluation, Leonard said they will work on exercises, but she is especially passionate about educating patients on pelvic health.

“People need to know how to do things throughout their daily life, like learning about bladder health, learning about toilet posture. Just our activities, what we do throughout the day and what we do in the bathroom really affects our pelvic floor… like sitting on the toilet for more than 10 minutes, scanning their phones.”

Seek Professional Guidance for Pelvic Health Concerns

Leonard and Sahota said it’s critical that people who believe they may have pelvic health issues consult a doctor.

“Dr. Google can sometimes lead us down a certain path,” Sahota said. “Without a therapist or at least a guided understanding of what’s going on with muscle tone of the pelvic floor, you could possibly be doing something that might not be beneficial for you.

“Understanding your pelvic floor strength or weakness or combination of both is typically very beneficial to determine with the help of an educated provider. And with a referral, we can help determine the best course of treatment for your overall health.”

To learn more about pelvic health rehabilitation services at Silver Cross, or to schedule an appointment, visit silvercross.org