Hello! It's Karen, your pelvic floor physiotherapist at Bespoke Therapy. Read along to discover the biggest and best changes to my health since becoming a pelvic floor physio.
Low back pain - from zero to complete control
I used to experience left sided low back pain on a regular basis. It was not debilitating, but nonetheless, was present at inconvenient times. My two known aggravating factors were (1) working out, and (2) the days preceding my period. I am happy to report that my low back pain has significantly improved. The severity of discomfort has decreased and the frequency has reduced. What was my secret to achieving this? I learned how to breathe and manage my intra-abdominal pressure (think of the pressure inside the abdominal cavity or the torso) during my exercises. During movements like squats, deadlifts, and shoulder presses, I incorporated a better breathing pattern, different bracing strategy, and optimal pelvic floor range of motion. I continue to occasionally experience low back pain around the time of my period, but now have an array of tools to help manage my symptoms.
Pelvic pain - from frequent to rare
Experiencing pelvic floor discomfort during intercourse was not uncommon for me - a condition called dyspareunia that is experienced by many people. The pain I would feel was also located on the left side (same side as my low back pain)! Fascinating right? So what was my secret this time that helped me drastically resolve my pelvic pain? Drum roll please...it was, once again, changing up my breathing and connecting to my pelvic floor. Sorry for the underwhelming answer, but it is true! By simply tuning into my breath and becoming aware of the tension in my pelvic floor muscles, I noticed a positive shift in my symptoms. As a pelvic floor physio, I also gained an immense amount of knowledge about how our bodies experience pain and the control we have over our central nervous system. For some people, they will need a lot more than breathing and pelvic floor exercises, but it is definitely a great place to start.
Pooping - from "no one ever taught me how to poop" to "let me teach you how to poop"
Let's talk about poop! Since becoming a pelvic health physiotherapist, I talk about poop on a daily basis with my clients, friends, and family. The status of our bowel movements act as a powerful indicator of our gut and pelvic health. I realized that I was a bit of a "rusher" when I was on the toilet, often straining and not completely emptying. After understanding how to breathe, position my body, and relax my pelvic floor muscles during my bowel movements, I rarely have to do much pushing! Aside from physically changing how I poop, I also became a lot more conscious of my water intake, fibre consumption, and level of physical activity. This allowed me to optimize my bowel health and be proactive about preventing constipation.
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