Understanding Your Pelvic Floor
Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles that form the base of your pelvis. These muscles provide
support for your bladder, bowel and uterus (or prostate in men) and play an important role in
bladder and bowel control, sexual function, pregnancy, childbirth and everyday movement.
Healthy pelvic floor function is about much more than muscle strength. Your pelvic floor needs to
contract when support is required, but it also needs to relax and lengthen at the right time. It should
respond automatically to everyday activities such as coughing, sneezing, lifting, running and jumping,
while also relaxing to allow comfortable bladder and bowel emptying, sexual activity and childbirth.
The pelvic floor also works as part of a wider team of muscles, including your diaphragm, abdominal
muscles, back muscles and hips. Together, these muscles help regulate pressure within your
abdomen, support your spine and pelvis, and contribute to efficient movement during work,
exercise and sport.
When the pelvic floor is not functioning optimally, symptoms can occur. These may include bladder
leakage, urinary urgency or frequency, constipation or difficulty emptying the bowel, pelvic organ
prolapse, pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, or difficulty returning to exercise after pregnancy.
Importantly, these symptoms are not always caused by weakness. Sometimes the pelvic floor is
overactive, unable to relax effectively, or not coordinating appropriately with the rest of the body.
At Refresh Physio, assessment goes beyond measuring muscle strength. We assess how your pelvic
floor contracts, relaxes, coordinates, responds to movement and functions as part of your whole
body. Treatment is individualised and may include education, pelvic floor muscle retraining,
breathing and pressure management, strength and exercise prescription, movement retraining,
bowel and bladder strategies, and guidance to help you confidently return to the activities that
matter most to you.
Whether your goal is to stop leaking, reduce pelvic pain, improve prolapse symptoms, return to
running after having a baby, or simply feel stronger and more confident in your body, pelvic health
physiotherapy aims to restore optimal function—not just stronger muscles.
