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People often ask me how I stumbled into the field of pelvic health—it's quite an unusual story. During my time in physical therapy school, where students typically discover their desired specialization, I didn't encounter much about the pelvic floor. It wasn't until I attended a pilates class that the concept of pelvic health entered my radar.
Intrigued by the instructor's constant cueing to "engage your pelvic floor muscles," I found myself confused. What exactly was the pelvic floor, and why was it so important? After several classes of confusion, I decided to Google answers! Thus began my journey down the rabbit hole of pelvic health. With a quick Google search, I stumbled upon a wealth of information about the pelvic floor and its crucial role in overall well-being. Pelvic floor physical therapy emerged as a prominent topic in my research. As I continued reading and learning more about the subject, I was captivated by the complexity and significance of pelvic health.
The more I read, the more convinced I became that this was the path I wanted to pursue. Working with individuals to optimize their pelvic health and enhance their quality of life felt like a calling—a calling I couldn't ignore.
I love being able to combine my hobby with my job. Pilates is an excellent workout that emphasizes core strength, flexibility, and mind-body connection. I often incorporate pilates movements in people’s rehabilitation program because it’s super beneficial and promotes pelvic health. During pregnancy, it’s important to keep your deep core muscles strong to support the growing baby bump, prevent pelvic and low back pain, and decrease abdominal separation. Pilates also helps to maintain proper alignment as the body undergoes significant changes. Not only is pilates beneficial during pregnancy, but it can help restore your core and pelvic floor strength during postpartum recovery. It’s a gentle, low-impact exercise that is so effective in reactivating muscles.
Though pilates is great in so many aspects, it may not be good for individuals depending on their point in recovery. Some movements may be too intense for pregnant and postpartum individuals. I always assess an individuals core strength and their ability to maintain their core brace with different loads. If one is unable to maintain load with an exercise, it increases intra-abdominal pressure, which can cause weakening of the core and pelvic floor. Individuals with diastasis recti should especially proceed cautiously with pilates. This is because if there’s poor core engagement and load management, it can lead to an increase abdominal separation. Those with pelvic floor dysfunction should also be cautious due to similar reasons.
Pilates emerges as a valuable tool for enhancing pelvic health during pregnancy and postpartum. Its emphasis on core strength, flexibility, and mindful movement aligns perfectly with the needs of individuals during these transformative stages of life. However, if you experience leaking/incontinence, abdominal coning, pelvic pain, low back pain, or hip pain, etc, it is essential to approach pilates with caution, seeking guidance from a pelvic floor physical therapist to ensure safety and efficacy.
Dr. Gaby Rivera
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