Functions of The Pelvic Floor

There are THREE layers of muscle that make up your pelvic floor, they attach from the pubic bone to the tailbone (coccyx) and to your sitz bones on either side.

The Pelvic Floor has five main functions:

Support

Sling of muscles that support the pelvic organs (bladder, uterus, rectum) against gravity and intra-abdominal pressure.

Decreased support can result in pelvic organ prolapse, when the pelvic organs descend and bulge into the vaginal canal.

Sump Pump

The pelvic floor acts as a venous and lymphatic pump for the pelvis.

Decreased sump pump action can create pelvic congestion, can feel like increased pressure or heaviness or pain in the vulva.

Sphincteric

The pelvic floor muscles control the opening of the urethra and the rectum to maintain urinary and fecal continence. 

Decreased sphincteric action can result in stress and urge incontinence: a loss of urine or stool during exercise, coughing, and sneezing or leaking on your way to the bathroom.

Sexual

The pelvic floor muscles provides tone for vaginal and rectal canals.

Tight Pelvic Floor Muscles = Painful Penetration

Weak Pelvic Floor Muscles = Poor Sensation

Stability

The pelvic floor muscles contribute to the stability of the spine, the pelvis and the hips. Three other muscles contribute to this stability: 

• Diaphragm

• Transversus Abdominis

• Multifidus

Who knew these muscles could do so much?? Did you learn something or did you know this all before? Let me know in the comments below!

Warmly,

CY