If you have ever taken physics or a similar class in school you will be familiar with the length/tension ratio. In order for something to be strong, it needs to have adequate length. If something is too tight or is shortened, it is unable to relax fully and will have a hard time becoming strong. This is very important when it comes to muscles in your body!

If your biceps/quadriceps/hamstrings are too tight and are not able to fully lengthen, you will not produce adequate strength from the muscle and will most likely be painful. You will not be able to reach up high, squat down low or walk or run without difficulty. This is a problem and in order to improve its function, the muscle needs to be lengthened. This is the same for the pelvic floor. Its just a little different as it does more than just help to move your body.

Pelvic Floor

Your pelvic floor is made up of 15 different muscles in three different layers that have essential functions to your body. It is very important that these muscles are not tight, but in optimal length so they can contract and relax as they were designed to. When a muscle is too tight in the pelvic floor, it will likely be painful if touched and weak. Both of these are big problems due to where they are located. Here are some descriptions of the muscles of the pelvic floor according to an article on PubMed, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2617789/

Muscles of your Pelvic Floor:

1st layer: Superficial Perineal Pouch

• Bulbocavernosus
• Ischiocavernosus
• Superficial Transverse Perineal
• External Anal Sphincter

2nd layer: Deep Perineal Pouch

• External Urethral Sphincter
• Deep Transverse Perineal
• Sphincter Urethrovaginalis

3rd layer: Pelvic Diaphragm

• Levator Ani group
  • Pubococcygeus
    • Pubovaginalis
    • Puborectalis
  • Illiococcygeus
• Coccygeus

3rd layer: Muscles of the Pelvic Walls

• Obturator Internus-rotates the leg and stabilizes your hip
• Piriformis-rotates the hip

As you can see there are many muscles of the pelvic floor and they have vital functions in our every day life. If the pelvic floor muscles are too tight and are not in optimal length, they will not be strong. They will not be able to perform their proper function and a dysfunction can occur.

Pelvic Floor Functions

• Stabilize your pelvis
• Sphincter control of bowel and bladder and withstand increase in intra-abdominal pressure
• Supports the pelvic organs including the bladder, uterus and rectum
• Sexual response
• Sump pump to deliver proper blood flow to pelvis and lower body

Pelvic Floor Dysfunctions

• Instability of the pelvis with pain and laxity to the pubic symphysis, sacroilliac joints and sacrococcygeal joints
• Incontinece of urine, gas or feces
• Prolapse of bladder, uterus or rectum
• Difficulty with erection, climax, orgasm, desire or arousal
• Lack of blood flow to the pelvic floor
• Pelvic Pain
• Pain with sex or gynecological exams

If you have experienced any of the above symptoms, you may have a pelvic floor muscle that is too tight. In order to fully assess that, you will need to see a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist and they can tell you which muscle and how to treat it. Because these muscles are internal and in a web of a pelvic bowl, it can be challenging to just stretch them like other parts of your body. Likely you will need to lengthen these muscles and then re-train them to their optimal length again. This will help with getting them stronger and help perform vital functions again.

If you have any questions about Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy, please check out www.thepelvicfloorplace.com to learn more on how to treat a tight pelvic floor! To schedule a visit, please visit https://thepelvicfloorplace.com/pelvic-floor-physical-therapy/

Cheers!

Christina Trautman, DPT