pelvic floor muscles

Our user asked: "Hello, I would like to ask you a rather sensitive question about the pelvic floor muscles. I've started doing kegel exercises recently and now that i've gained a better awareness of these muscles i noticed that i'm unconsciously keeping those muscles contracted all day long, especially during stressful situations. Not that it's a major contraction, but still. I known that the pelvic floor muscles are involved in stabilizing the spine, internal organs and have other rather important functions as well, so i guess those muscles need to be in some kind of tone all the time, am i right? Then again, maybe its just a habit that i have (i tend to contract my buttocks well) and i should get rid of? Could you please make it clear for me? Thank you"

Ask a PT Response: "Thanks for writing.  Yours is a very good question.  The pelvic floor muscles  (pfm) are like other muscles in the body - it is important for them to contract and relax at appropriate times, in order for proper bowel and bladder functioning.  Kegels are only a part of a good routine to perform if you have pelvic floor weakness.  If you are having continence issues, you may not have weakness, but you may have hypertonicity of the PFM.  That means the muscles do not relax when they are supposed to.  Physical Therapy can help with this, specifically a treatment called biofeedback.  It assesses the muscles and the muscle activity, and then teaches them to relax and contract at appropriate times.  A Physical Therapist  will instruct you on how to properly perform Kegels and other muscle-strengthening exercises.  It is not correct to contract the buttock or leg muscles while doing Kegels.  The PFMs should be trained to contract without the use of other musculature.  It would be helpful for you to consult with a specially-trained Physical Therapist, one who is trained in Bowel and Bladder disorders and also trained in using biofeedback for Continence issues."