Stop Doing Kegels: Here’s What A Pelvic Floor PT Wants You To Know
Executive Summary
The pelvic floor, a complex network of muscles, ligaments, and nerves, plays a crucial role in maintaining urinary continence, bowel function, and sexual health. However, the conventional wisdom of doing Kegel exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor has been widely debunked by pelvic floor physical therapists. In this report, we will delve into the anatomy and function of the pelvic floor, the limitations of Kegel exercises, and the evidence-based recommendations for maintaining a healthy pelvic floor.
The Anatomy of the Pelvic Floor
The pelvic floor is a dome-shaped structure that forms the base of the pelvis. It consists of several layers of muscles, including the pubococcygeus (PC) muscle, the iliococcygeus muscle, and the coccygeus muscle. These muscles work together to support the pelvic organs, including the bladder, uterus, and rectum. The pelvic floor also contains ligaments, nerves, and blood vessels that play a crucial role in maintaining its function.