subject: Continence Advice – Tone Up Your Pelvic Floor [print this page] Continence Advice Tone Up Your Pelvic Floor
Here's a piece of continence advice that you really ought to take to heart. Actually you should take it to your pelvic floor muscles. And what are those you ask? Well basically the pelvic floor muscle group is located in your lower abdomen and supports all of the organs there including your bladder.
In addition to supporting the bladder, these muscles provide the "squeeze" that is used to control the flow of urine from the urethra. Obviously, if these muscles lose their tone or become damaged in some way they will be less efficient in controlling the flow of urine and that in turn can mean you have a case of incontinence.
When we are young and healthy and strong, we really don't think about this muscle group because it doesn't affect our outward appearance like abs or pecs or calf muscles. Consequently we don't exercise them the way we do other groups of muscles. This means that over time, particularly for women who have gone through pregnancy and childbirth, the pelvic floor muscles tend to lose their tone. "Use it or lose it" is aptly applied here.
Stress incontinence, one of the most common forms of the condition, is caused by weak pelvic floor muscles. When this muscle group cannot perform its task, both the bladder and the urethra become more susceptible to outside pressure. Something as simple as a sneeze or a laugh can apply enough pressure on the abdomen to force urine out of the bladder and into the urethra. If the muscles can't squeeze off the flow, then there is an involuntary leakage of urine.
There is a way to exercise this group and prevent stress incontinence from occurring. The exercises are known as the Kegel system and are basically isometric exercises that require no special equipment or space. By contracting and holding these muscles you can firm them up over a period of time.
Regardless how young or old you are, you can use this continence advice to start toning up the muscles and preventing problems in the future.
