The pelvic floor is made up of muscles, ligaments, and tissue and is located in the lower pelvis. Together with the abdominal muscles, the pelvic floor forms part of the 'core'. In particular, it plays a crucial role in supporting organs like the bladder, uterus and rectum.
However, these muscles can become weak or damaged by factors like pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, obesity or certain medical conditions. In fact, the pelvic floor is likely to be affected by aging as well.
Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a specialized branch of physiotherapy that focuses on assessing and treating issues related to the pelvic floor muscles. Because the role of the abdominal muscles is closely linked to the pelvic floor, a pelvic floor physiotherapist will also work on this area.
This type of therapy aims to improve flexibility, strength, coordination and overall function.
