Health Organization for Pudendal Education

My physical therapist is instructing me in exercises to isolate and strengthen the gluteal and abdominal muscles, in theory, leaving the pelvic floor muscles to rest. Apparently, this is a common approach in treating pelvic floor dysfunction.

However, I do not think that this is going well. In fact, I think that it is causing my pain to flareup.

Has anyone had any success (or failure) with exercises to isolate and strengthen the gluteal and/or abdominal muscles?

Dave, I can only say not yet. I just started ab work to help keep my pelvis straight since my ligament was cut during surgery and something needs to make up for that.
Janet

Hi Dave,

Could you please ask your therapist for a detailed explanation about how these exercises are supposed to allow your pelvic floor to rest?

Dave wrote:Apparently, this is a common approach in treating pelvic floor dysfunction.

I've never heard of this approach for PFD. Usually, these muscle groups are hypertonic and require lengthening - not strengthening. Do you have muscle weakness in these areas?
What types of exercises is she suggesting?
Kind regards,
Karyn

Dave, the only core strengthening exercise that I could do for quite a long time after surgery was a modified form of this one:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/core-s ... 47&slide=9
http://tinyurl.com/8stpaxl

Instead of keeping the raised leg straight out, I bent it at the knee to put less stress on the pelvic floor. You might be able to do slide 5 and 6 too -- they are fairly easy on the pelvic floor. Now I can do bridges and other things too but it took quite awhile (years?) after surgery. I'm not a big fan of doing anything that flares you up after surgery.

Violet