Pelvic Floor 101
It's not as bad as it sounds.
The word prolapse usually brings up a lot of fear. Folks think it means something is falling out of your body, or that they're doomed for surgery, or that they'll never be able to go to the gym again. Take a deep breath. It's not as bad as it sounds. Let's dive into exactly what a prolapse is (99% of the time it's not as bad as you think it is!), what you can do about it, and how to prevent it from getting worse.
Pelvic Health, Posture & Prolapse – Demystified!
Check out my interview with Dr. Lisa Moore, DPT
Key Takeaways:
Your bladder and rectum can NOT actually fall out of your body.
Uterine prolapse is rare, and even then, it's typically not actually falling out.
Your symptoms are more important than the degree of prolapse. Some folks have barely any on exam but feel a ton of heaviness; others have a fairly significant prolapse on exam but it really doesn't bother them.
If your symptoms aren't getting in the way of your life, you do not need surgery.
Pelvic Floor PT is always the first line of treatment before even considering surgery.
The primary goal in managing prolapse is pressure management. This means avoiding bearing down, avoiding constipation, incorporating your pelvic floor, and avoiding holding your breath when you pick up weights, your kids, or the groceries.