What is Pelvic Floor?

What is Pelvic Floor?

• ·       How does it become weak?
• ·      What happens if it is weak?
•        How can a Physiotherapist help in such condition?

           Pelvic floor is a layer, made of muscles and other connective tissues, situated at the base of hip bones, to support the abdominal organs (Bladder, bowel, uterus, etc.)

       As shown in the figure below it is made up of linear and round arrangement of muscles with anal, vaginal and urethral openings.

 For woman having pregnancy (specially repeated and multiple pregnancies) or obesity, there is more pressure on this pelvic floor, leading to weakness of the tissues. This causes decrease in strength of muscles and hence, urine control. If it is severe, pelvic organs like uterus, cervix etc may come out of the openings (prolapse).

Prolapse can worsen over time due to constipation, multiple subsequent pregnancies or straining abdominal muscles.

To know about its exercise, refer to stress urinary incontinence page in this blog.http://physiotherapy4alll.blogspot.in/p/stress-urinary-incontinence.html