Prolapse Pelvic Floor Exercises

Pelvic organ prolapse is a pelvic floor disorder in which the connective tissues and muscles in the pelvis sustain injury or become weakened and fail to hold the pelvic organs in place. The National Institutes of Health estimates that about one-third of women in the United States experience a pelvic floor disorder. Treatment for serious cases could involve medication, the use of supportive devices or surgery. However, many women find that pelvic floor exercises strengthen pelvic muscles and alleviate some of the symptoms associated with the disorder.

Pelvic Prolapse Disorders

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles shaped like a sling that stretch across the female pelvis opening. The muscles work with connective tissues to hold pelvic organs in place. Stretching and weakening of the muscles and tissues can lead to vaginal or uterine prolapse. Vaginal prolapse means the top of the vagina can protrude outside of the vaginal opening. Uterine prolapse allows the uterus to press down on or protrude into the vaginal area. Uterine prolapse can lead to the prolapse of other organs such as the rectum and bladder.

Causes, Symptoms and Complications

Radiation treatments and pelvic surgery can cause pelvic prolapse disorders. Other causes include difficult labor and delivery, excess weight, estrogen loss during menopause, gravity and loss of muscle tone. Some women do not experience symptoms, while others have low back pain, sexual problems, protruding tissue and feelings of heaviness, pulling, aching, bulging and a worsening of symptoms as the day progresses. Pelvic organ prolapse can cause urinary or anal incontinence and can affect the urethra, which can result in urinary problems and frequent infections of the urinary tract.

Pelvic Floor Exercises

Pelvic floor exercises contract and relax the pelvic floor muscles to build and maintain the strength of the muscles, ligaments and tissue needed for proper function of the pelvic floor. Regular performance of the exercises can result in improved bladder and bowel control. MayoClinic.com recommends six to 12 weeks of regular performance of the exercises to see changes such as improved bladder and bowel control. Perform the exercises four times a day: in the morning before you get out of bed; after lunch; in the evening; and once you are in bed for the night. Perform 10 repetitions of one of the pelvic floor exercises during your sessions.

Examples of Exercises

Perform the Kegel exercise by tightening your pelvic floor muscles as if trying to prevent the passing of gas or urine as you squeeze and lift your rectal and vaginal areas without tightening the muscles in your buttocks or stomach. The holding exercise requires you to hold the Kegel, or the contraction of your pelvic floor muscles, for a count of three, relax and repeat. Work towards holding the position for 10 seconds and relaxing for 10 seconds between the contractions. Another exercise, called quick flicks, requires you to perform a series of rapid Kegels by contracting and releasing your muscles quickly with no holding or prolonging of the contractions.

Considerations

Treatment is not required since the condition is not life threatening; however, you should see a doctor if the prolapse is severe or the symptoms are disruptive to normal activities. Doctors can prescribe treatment for the side effects of the condition, such as the incontinence. Vaginal weights, which are shaped and used like tampons, help you to perfect the technique of contracting your pelvic floor muscles by trying to keep the weights inside your vaginal area by tightening your muscles.