A fallen bladder, formally known as a cystocele, is a condition that occurs in women when the wall separating the bladder and vagina weakens and permits the bladder to intrude abnormally into the vagina's space. In some cases, you can develop a fallen bladder from lifting weights, especially if you hold your breath or strain while working out.
Basics
If you develop a fallen bladder, you can experience incomplete emptying of your bladder and uncontrolled leakage of urine. If the change in the position of your bladder stretches the opening to your urethra, which carries urine from your bladder, you can also experience a spontaneous urine release when you laugh, sneeze, cough or otherwise increase pressure on your bladder. Intrusion of your bladder into your vagina varies in severity and can range from mild drooping into the vaginal space to full emergence of your bladder through your vaginal opening.
Weightlifting
Weightlifting or any other form of repetitive heavy lifting can trigger the onset of a fallen bladder. Additional potential causes include straining during bowel movements, vaginal childbirth, obesity and smoking or chronic lung problems that cause you to cough frequently. If you have gone through menopause, lack of estrogen can trigger a weakening of the pelvic floor muscles that normally support your bladder and vagina. In turn, this weakening can increase your risks for developing a fallen bladder. In some cases, the condition also runs in families, according to the Better Health Channel.
Modifying Your Routine
If you have a fallen bladder, Better Health Channel recommends modifying your weightlifting routine to exclude exercises that require you to strain your core muscles or hold your breath. If you normally work out with heavy weights, switch to lighter weights that don't encourage strain or breath retention. To maintain the overall intensity of your workout, perform more repetitions of exercises with lighter weights.
Additional Exercises
Other exercises that can trigger or worsen the onset of a fallen bladder include sit-ups, running, high-impact aerobics and jumping. In many cases, you can safely replace sit-ups with core exercises performed on an exercise ball. Suitable potential replacements for high-impact exercises and aerobics include bicycling, swimming and walking. If you want to get more of a workout from walking, also use an inclined treadmill.
Considerations
In some cases, modifications in your workout routine will be sufficient to avoid worsening your fallen bladder symptoms, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. In other cases, your symptoms may be severe enough to require the internal placement of a bladder support device called a pessary. If you develop a severely fallen bladder, your doctor may need to perform surgery to restore your bladder to its normal position.
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