The Essential Role of Core and Pelvic Floor Strength and Mobility
In our fast-paced world, where many of us spend hours hunched over screens or enduring the strains of daily life, there’s a crucial aspect of physical health that often gets overlooked: the strength and mobility of our core and pelvic floor. At MAUD Medical Clinic in Calgary, we call this ‘floor to core’ and we offer EMSCULPT By MAUD and EMSELLA By MAUD to assist our patients in the ultimate exercise to enhance function. The cores play a fundamental role in our overall well-being, influencing everything from posture and movement to digestion and sexual health in Calgary. Understanding and nurturing the strength and mobility of these muscle groups can transform your health in profound ways. Let’s delve into why this is so important and how you can start prioritizing it today.
What is Core and Pelvic Floor Strength?
Core strength encompasses the muscles of your abdomen, lower back, hips, and pelvis. It's not just about having a six-pack; it’s about the deeper muscles that stabilize your spine and pelvis, providing a solid foundation for movement and supporting every action you perform.
The pelvic floor refers to a group of muscles and connective tissues that span the base of your pelvis. These muscles support your bladder, bowel, and, in women, the uterus. They play a crucial role in maintaining continence, supporting your organs, and contributing to sexual health for men and women.
Why Strength and Mobility Matter
1. Enhancing Posture and Reducing Back Pain
A strong core helps maintain proper posture, reducing strain on your spine and preventing back pain. When the muscles of your core are weak, your spine can become misaligned, leading to discomfort and chronic pain. “The pelvic floor also plays a role here; it supports the base of your spine, and a well-functioning pelvic floor can alleviate pressure on the lower back” - Say’s Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist of Maud Medical Clinic
2. Improving Movement and Athletic Performance
Whether you're lifting weights, running, or engaging in sports, your core and pelvic floor muscles are involved in stabilizing and powering your movements. Strong core muscles improve balance, coordination, and endurance, while a resilient pelvic floor can enhance athletic performance and reduce the risk of injury. We use EMSCULPT to help engage muscles for improved training and strength.
3. Supporting Digestive Health
The muscles of your core, including those of the pelvic floor, help manage intra-abdominal pressure, which can influence digestion and bowel function. A strong and flexible core along with proper nutrition can prevent issues like constipation and bloating by supporting proper abdominal pressure and facilitating regular bowel movements.
4. Promoting Reproductive Health
For women, the pelvic floor is vital for supporting reproductive organs and handling the stresses of pregnancy and childbirth. Strengthening the pelvic floor can help prevent or manage conditions such as pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence. For men, a healthy pelvic floor can support sexual health and prevent discomfort.
Atrophy of Core and Pelvic Floor Muscles Post-Surgery with EMSCULPT Calgary
Surgical recovery can often lead to muscle atrophy, particularly in the core and pelvic floor. This muscle loss is due to several factors:
Reduced Activity: Post-surgery, you might experience limited mobility or be advised to avoid strenuous activities, leading to muscle weakness.
Pain and Discomfort: “Pain or discomfort can limit your ability to perform exercises that normally engage the core and pelvic floor muscles.” Dr. Jimmy Kwok from AROUSED
Altered Body Mechanics: Surgery can change how you move, further impacting muscle strength and coordination.
To combat this atrophy, it’s crucial to engage in a structured rehabilitation plan. Start with gentle exercises and gradually increase intensity as you regain strength and mobility. Consulting a physical therapist who specializes in post-surgical rehabilitation can provide you with a tailored exercise program that ensures a safe and effective recovery.
Rehabilitation Post-Natal with Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist
Pregnancy and childbirth can significantly impact the core and pelvic floor muscles. Post-natal rehabilitation is essential for restoring strength, function, and overall wellness:
1. Addressing Pelvic Floor Recovery
Kegel Exercises: Start with gentle Kegel exercises to help restore pelvic floor strength and function. These exercises involve contracting and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles and can be gradually intensified as strength improves - using the EMSELLA By Maud, Calgary men and women are able to strengthen and engage their pelvic muscles within 2 weeks.
Breathing Techniques: Learn to use proper breathing techniques to engage and relax the pelvic floor effectively. This helps in easing the pressure on the pelvic floor and improving its function, learn how to breathe with a pelvic floor physiotherapist at MAUD Medical Clinic.
2. Rebuilding Core Strength
Diastasis Recti Exercises: After childbirth, many women experience diastasis recti (separation of the abdominal muscles). Specific exercises can help close this gap and strengthen the core.
Safe Core Exercises: Begin with gentle core exercises that focus on engaging the transverse abdominis and gradually progress to more challenging movements using EMSCULPT By MAUD in Calgary combined with physiotherapy.
3. Professional Guidance
Working with MAUD Pelvic Floor physiotherapist specializing in post-natal care can be invaluable. They can provide personalized exercises, monitor progress, and ensure that you're recovering safely and effectively.
Advanced Treatment Options: EMSCULPT and EMSELLA By MAUD
In addition to traditional exercise and therapy, advanced treatments like EMSCULPT and EMSELLA offer innovative solutions for enhancing core and pelvic floor strength in 2 weeks.
EMSCULPT By MAUD
EMSCULPT in Calgary is a non-invasive procedure that uses high-intensity focused electromagnetic (HIFEM) technology to induce muscle contractions beyond what is possible through voluntary exercise alone. This technology targets the muscles of the abdomen and buttocks, hamstrings, arms leading to increased muscle tone and strength.
Core Benefits: EMSCULPT can effectively strengthen the core muscles, improve abdominal tone, and enhance overall muscle definition. It is particularly beneficial for those who have experienced muscle atrophy post-surgery in Calgary or childbirth, helping to restore strength and function more rapidly.
Procedure: The treatment involves a series of sessions where the HIFEM technology is applied to the targeted areas. Patients typically experience some muscle soreness, similar to what they would after an intense workout, but there is no downtime.
EMSELLA By MAUD is another advanced, non-invasive treatment specifically designed to address pelvic floor issues. It uses high-intensity electromagnetic energy to stimulate deep pelvic floor muscles, promoting muscle strengthening and rejuvenation.
Pelvic Floor Benefits: EMSELLA By MAUD is particularly useful for individuals dealing with pelvic floor weakness, urinary incontinence, or other related issues. It can help restore pelvic floor strength, improve continence, and enhance overall function.
Procedure: The patient sits fully clothed on the Calgary EMSELLA chair while the device delivers electromagnetic pulses to the pelvic floor. The treatment is comfortable and requires no downtime, with many patients experiencing significant improvements after a series of sessions.
How to Strengthen and Mobilize Core and Pelvic Floor Muscles
1. Core Exercises to combine with EMSELLA and EMSCULPT Therapy
Incorporate exercises that target all areas of your core:
Planks: Excellent for engaging the entire core.
Bridges: Strengthen the lower back and glutes while activating the core.
Dead Bugs: Promote coordination and stability.
2. Pelvic Floor Exercises
Pelvic floor exercises, (often referred to as Kegels) can be done by both men and women using EMSELLA as a tool:
How to do a Kegel: Test how to do a kegel by squeezing and release the pelvic floor muscles, as if trying to stop the flow of urine.
Pelvic Tilts: Help engage the pelvic floor and strengthen the lower back.
3. Mobility Work
After EMSELLA and EMSCULPT treatment, maintaining flexibility in your core and pelvic floor is important:
Cat-Cow Stretch: Enhances spinal flexibility and engages the core.
Child’s Pose: A gentle stretch for the lower back and pelvic region.
4. Seek Professional Guidance from MAUD Pelvic Floor Physiotherapists
If you're unsure where to start or if you have specific concerns, consulting a pelvic floor physiotherapist specializing in pelvic function and health can provide personalized guidance and a tailored exercise plan. For advanced treatment options, consult with a provider specializing in EMSCULPT Calgary and EMSELLA Calgary to see if these therapies might be right for you.
Conclusion
Core and pelvic floor strength and mobility are foundational to a healthy, active life. By prioritizing these areas, you’re not just improving your posture and physical performance; you’re also enhancing your overall quality of life by improving sexual health, overall strength and mobility. Start integrating exercises into your routine, consider advanced treatment options like EMSCULPT and EMSELLA By MAUD if applicable, and seek professional help if needed. Your core and pelvic floor will thank you with increased strength, stability, and vitality—empowering you to live life to its fullest.
Here's to a stronger, healthier you! MAUD team 5873526283 Calgary pelvic floor physiotherapy clinic
