The Pelvic Floor Healthy, active and strong pelvic floor muscles are very important to women throughout life. Weak and poorly controlled muscles can lead to prolapse and loss of bladder or bowel control. Physiotherapists trained in continence management can assess your pelvic floor muscles and, if necessary, help you strengthen and regain their control. What Do Pelvic Floor Muscles Do? The pelvic floor muscles support the bladder, uterus, vagina and bowel. They form a muscular and elastic floor across the bottom of the pelvis. When tightened, the muscles lift the organs and constrict their openings. The muscles relax to empty the bladder and bowel. Stretching of these muscles during childbirth and straining with constipation sometimes causes muscle weakening. As there may be reasons other than muscle weakness for loss of bladder and bowel control, professional advice should be sought for all incontinence problems. Signs of Weak Pelvic Floor Muscles leaking urine when sneezing, coughing, running (or other sudden actions) not getting to the toilet in time tampons won't stay in place vaginal or anal flatus (wind) when bending and lifting bulging felt at the vaginal opening (prolapse) difficulty emptying the bowel completely low pelvic dragging, vaginal heaviness, feeling everything might fall out You Need Special Attention If You: are pregnant or a new mother are menopausal lift heavy objects often suffer from constipation are overweight cough frequently have low backache go to the toilet often to pass small amounts of urine Benefits of Pelvic Floor Control active lifestyle without wet or soiled pants control of wind (flatus) firm vagina freedom from pelvic heaviness and dragging discomfort avoid repair surgery a sense of control! You Can Help Yourself By: drinking two litres of fluid each day minimising coffee, tea and cola drinks staying within a healthy weight range seeking help for a chronic cough which makes your bladder problems worse avoiding straining with constipation Don't put up with incontinence as though it's unavoidable - it's not! How Physiotherapists Can Help Some physiotherapists have special training, skills and experience in continence management. They can help if you have incontinence, constipation or prolapse, or simply want to learn how to use your pelvic floor muscles correctly and safely. Many women are unable to use their pelvic floor muscles correctly unless they receive individual pelvic floor muscle testing and training - simply trying to tighten the muscles is not enough. It is also important to learn to use your abdominal muscles correctly while exercising the pelvic floor. Physiotherapy teaches you how to: exercise your pelvic floor muscles correctly retrain weak pelvic floor muscles regain pelvic floor control while sneezing, coughing, laughing and lifting maintain pelvic floor control Finding a Physiotherapist A doctor's referral is not required to see a physiotherapist in private practice. Physiotherapists in private practice are listed in the Yellow Pages under 'Physiotherapists'. Physiotherapists also work in public hospitals and community health centres. Contact the Australian Physiotherapy Association in your state or territory for the names of physiotherapists in your area who have a special interest in the pelvic floor and continence management. A proportion of treatment costs is rebatable under all higher table health insurance schemes. © By courtesy of the Australian Physiotherapy Association