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SPECIAL ARTICLE Importantance of pelvic floor rehabilitation in sports player
Article By:- DR. MARTINA JOHN, PG DIPLOMA IN ON FIELD SPORTS INJURY MANAGEMENT, CHENNAI, PELVIC FLOOR REHABILITATION THERAPIST & CONSULTANT PHYSIO AT SANJEEVANI HOSPITAL BILASPUR
Today I would like to discuss the importance of pelvic floor muscle strength in our athletic population. People tend to link pelvic floor muscle exercises (also known as Kegel exercises) with pre and post-natal women. While this is one population where pelvic floor muscle (PFM) strengthening is important, it is definitely not the only group that need to incorporate pelvic floor muscle strengthening into their weekly exercise programs.
Atheletes need to take care Pelvic floor muscle weakness
Pelvic floor muscle weakness can also be a major issue for our male and female athletic population. Body builders and athletes participating in high impact sports such as running, HIIT classes, gymnastics, basketball and volleyball are also at a higher risk of developing symptoms linked to pelvic floor muscle weakness. These symptoms can include incontinence (the inability to control the bowel or bladder), prolapse, sexual dysfunction and pain.
Increase in pelvic floor muscle strength is important
For body builders, it is the frequent increase in intra-abdominal pressure bearing down on the pelvic floor muscles that can lead to this weakness. Intra-abdominal pressure is created when the abdominal musculature contracts to support the trunk in preparation to move one’s body against resistance or weight. Whilst this is important for certain exercises, the increase in demand on the body calls for an increase in pelvic floor muscle strength to withstand these forces.
It has also been shown that while the demands on the pelvic floor muscles are much higher during sports such as running, the pelvic floor is not adequately strengthening during high impact exercise.
