As a health care practitioner that works in the area of pelvic health it’s a daunting realization that we have a ton of work to do in advocating for pelvic health initiatives. The sad reality is that most pelvic health patients first learn about the anatomy, mechanics and optimal functioning of their pelvic floor when they are receiving a diagnosis because of concerns they are having with their pelvic health. All too often a client’s first introduction to concepts of pelvic floor functioning and their own anatomy comes with a “prescription” to help to return them to “normal” or improve symptoms they are having from dysfunction.
All too often we are educating clients on pelvic health, for the first time, when they have just carried and delivered new babies – one of the most important times we can make a big impact on their lives! Here’s the kicker though, pregnancy itself for many is already too late to have gone without this information. They needed this information BEFORE they were pregnant, not after delivery.
Pelvic health is an important topic for EVERYONE, not just women who are pregnant and postpartum; in fact that is a time in a woman’s life where the dynamics shift and NEW information is needed to BUILD on, not start from scratch!
This week alone, I have seen a handful of women with pelvic concerns, none of which are pregnant or postpartum, all with pelvic health challenges. All learning for the first time about their pelvic floors and the role they play within the whole “system”.
I can’t help but wonder:
What would “preventative” programming or education look like for women who are pregnant? They could learn much more than just how their body will change over the 9 months they are pregnant, however long they breastfeed, and when they stop breastfeeding, but skills to manage symptoms that may arise throughout these journeys.
What about women who are going through menopause? Do they know how these changes may affect their pelvic health?
Julie Wiebe, a phenomenal pelvic health practitioner and women's health advocate and mentor in the United States, recently suggested on her social media platforms that we encourage women to know their baseline prior to pregnancy. To understand their norms and establish their baselines so to speak.
What a great suggestion. Perhaps we should adopt this approach and develop it further yet.
Whether you are experiencing symptoms, not experiencing symptoms, don’t even know what these symptoms would present like, its never too late to learn about YOUR body.
~ Lindsay, PT
All too often we are educating clients on pelvic health, for the first time, when they have just carried and delivered new babies – one of the most important times we can make a big impact on their lives! Here’s the kicker though, pregnancy itself for many is already too late to have gone without this information. They needed this information BEFORE they were pregnant, not after delivery.
Pelvic health is an important topic for EVERYONE, not just women who are pregnant and postpartum; in fact that is a time in a woman’s life where the dynamics shift and NEW information is needed to BUILD on, not start from scratch!
This week alone, I have seen a handful of women with pelvic concerns, none of which are pregnant or postpartum, all with pelvic health challenges. All learning for the first time about their pelvic floors and the role they play within the whole “system”.
I can’t help but wonder:
- What would a sports environment look like if coaches and athletes had a better understanding of pelvic health?
- How much faster and stronger could we make our athletes?
- How would this knowledge change the incidence of knee injuries in youth basketball or soccer?
- Or the incidence of stress incontinence in our varsity track athletes?
- Would we see fewer incidences of low back pain and time off work if we learned more about our deep core and pelvic health from a young age?
- How many men and women would think differently about their deadlift in the gym, and how many cases of hemorrhoids and constipation could potentially be prevented? The list is endless.
What would “preventative” programming or education look like for women who are pregnant? They could learn much more than just how their body will change over the 9 months they are pregnant, however long they breastfeed, and when they stop breastfeeding, but skills to manage symptoms that may arise throughout these journeys.
What about women who are going through menopause? Do they know how these changes may affect their pelvic health?
Julie Wiebe, a phenomenal pelvic health practitioner and women's health advocate and mentor in the United States, recently suggested on her social media platforms that we encourage women to know their baseline prior to pregnancy. To understand their norms and establish their baselines so to speak.
What a great suggestion. Perhaps we should adopt this approach and develop it further yet.
Whether you are experiencing symptoms, not experiencing symptoms, don’t even know what these symptoms would present like, its never too late to learn about YOUR body.
~ Lindsay, PT
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