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Sports and pelvic floor

5 replies

ErnieAndBernie · 25/05/2019 12:39

Posting here for traffic!
So I do karate, I'm in my 40's and have had 2 kids. My pelvic floor is not great. Some months it seems to be worse than others.
I need to do pelvic exercises in addition to my twice weekly class but in the meantime I'd appreciate any recommendations for really good pads or even knickers that help absorb extra leakage if such a thing exists? A lot of our warm up exercises are jumping based and I want to be able to enjoy it and give it my all without worrying. I nearly had to leave the class with a wet karate suit this morning Confused
Any suggestions would be really gratefully received. I can't be the only person who has this problem!

OP posts:
Branleuse · 25/05/2019 13:10

Youre not the only person with this issue, but if you havent already, i would ask your doctor for a referral to specialist gynaecologist. This is an extremely common problem which is still taboo and laughed about, which affects so many women who are too embarrassed to talk about it or go to the doctor.
I have had problems in the last few years, and I was referred to a specialist and showed how to do the exercises properly, and also was enrolled first in a modified pilates class, and now a modified circuit class. Im using the NHS squeezy app, which costs about £3 but its worth paying for as I just wasnt doing the exercises without it, and ive definitely improved a LOT since ive been doing it a few months now.

I also know its not nice, but are you overweight at all, because this massively affects our pelvic floor sometimes, and if you keep to a healthy weight, it puts a lot of pressure on your pelvic floor.

Unofrtunately some exercises will make it worse, and you cant do these jumping exercises. Youre going to have to tell your instructor that you have been advised not to do these high impact exercises because of a medical problem. Whether you tell the truth is up to you, but i actually did pluck up the courage to tell my gym induction bloke, and was a bit embarrassed, but he didnt bat an eye, and advised me which ones to avoid. No squats. No running, no jumping, no lifting heavy weights. There is no way around this at the moment. If you continue, you will make the problem worse. Its a shame, because I actually loved running, but it turns out that could well have exacerbated it for me, so now i do cross trainer instead, or fast walking on an incline.
If you speak to a specialist, they will be able to help you. Please dont think you have to suffer, and please dont carry on doing exercises which will make it worse. You do not want that to happen. Youll have to modify what you do

Branleuse · 25/05/2019 13:12

i should say that if you are overweight, it puts pressure on your pelvic floor. Keeping to a midrange healthy BMI really does help, although i know this gets harder closer to menopause

LakeFlyPie · 25/05/2019 13:18

Another vote for NHS Squeezy app. Improvements can be noticed within a couple of weeks if you do the recommended 3x day

ErnieAndBernie · 25/05/2019 16:53

I'm not overweight no, 9 stone 5'4.
I'll definitely try the nhs app, thanks for the heads up. If it doesn't start getting better after a month or two then I'll book a drs appointment.
Do you find any pads are better than others in the meantime?

OP posts:
Branleuse · 26/05/2019 07:49

it wont get better while youre doing the jumps mate. It will get worse. Youre damaging it further. Ask for a modified warm up. Tell them its your knees if you find it embarrassing, or tell them its a personal issue,

As for pads, I think thats personal preference. I guess most people use tena for that sort of thing, but ive always found normal pantyliners are fine, but it depends how bad its got for you

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