The Positive Impact of Breathing on your Pelvic Floor

Just by breathing, you can gently move and connect with your pelvic floor muscles, which is the first step everyone can take to improve their pelvic health. More specifically, diaphragmatic breathing. This is when you breathe into your belly, allowing it to expand along with your lower ribs — as opposed to breathing into your chest and holding your belly tight.

The core is made up of the diaphragm muscle at the top, the abdominal muscles at the front and sides, the pelvic floor muscles at the bottom, and the spinal column and back muscles. These muscles form a cylinder from your upper ribs right down to your pelvic floor.

Your diaphragm is the main muscle that helps you breathe. When you inhale, it moves down into your abdominal cavity. At the same time, your pelvic floor drops and lengthens. When you exhale, your diaphragm releases and your pelvic floor shortens, moving back to its resting position.

Your core works as a team to support your spine, and pelvis so you can comfortably move your body. If part of the team is not working correctly because of pain, weakness, tightness, scar tissue, stress, posture, bad habits — or because your breathing pattern or technique is less than ideal — pelvic floor dysfunction can occur.

For more information on our Women’s Health Physiotherapy Service, email info@platinumphysio.ie or call our office team on 012789313