What is your pelvic floor?
Your pelvic floor is a powerful layer of muscles that sits like a hammock between your tailbone and pubic bone, supporting your pelvic organs. It plays an important role in core stability, bladder control, postnatal recovery and even sex.
How common are pelvic floor issues?
Pelvic floor issues are surprisingly common, affecting one in three women and up to 70% of expectant and new moms1. A weak pelvic floor can be the result of a range of factors, including weight gain, high-impact sport, ageing, pregnancy or childbirth. Often this presents as bladder control issues: from occasional leaks when you laugh, sneeze or jump to the unpredictable and urgent need to pee.
Other symptoms include lower-back pain and, in more advanced cases, organ prolapse. Fortunately, there is usually plenty that can be done to limit and even prevent symptoms altogether.
What are Kegel exercises?
Kegel exercises (also known as Kegels, Kegel training, pelvic floor exercises or pelvic floor muscle training) are targeted exercises that train and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Regular Kegel exercises can improve pelvic floor dysfunctions, including urinary and bowel incontinence2.