Strong and Vital No 4

Pelvic Floor

«Since I ’ ve been coming to you for back training, I no longer have a weak bladder». This is what a customer told me 30 years ago after doing back training regularly for three months.

I was perplexed. What does back training have to do with the bladder? What did the customer mean by «no longer having a weak bladder» ? I immersed myself in the subject and could not let go. The pelvic floor and back are still the main focus of my therapeutic work today. I am always fascinated by how the pelvic floor and back work together with all sta bilising core muscles and breathing. It is also exciting that the diaphragm, the pelvic position and also the foot and leg position have a direct influ ence on the tone of the pelvic floor. In any case, posture is the be-all and end-all for the pelvic floor and back. Our daily toilet routine also directly influences our well-being and the strain on the tissue.

However, it always amazes me that many women and men still do not know the basics of a healthy pelvic floor. Many are also unclear about how they should perceive or tense the pelvic floor. My mission is to pass on to women and men my fascina tion with deepening body awareness and maintaining a healthy pelvic floor. Every time you get to know your own body is like a journey of discovery, even an adventure to yourself! I am now a complementary therapist with a state diploma. I want to explore an alterna tive approach together with my clients that is integrative and supportive.

elderly in the nursing home, but I saw these as measures for unavoidable old-age ailments. It was only when I delved deeper into the subject that I learnt that weak bladder and incon tinence are a huge issue for women and men from mid-life onwards that is not talked about, but that a lot can be done about it. Now the question arises: What is it like today? Is it talked about more today? My observation is that there has been a change in gynaecology over the last 30 years. Back then, there were almost exclusively male gynae cologists, today there are almost exclusively female gynaecologists. Back then, hysterectomy was still the routine operation for women over 40. Today, hysterectomy is only perfor med with great reluctance and the gynaecologist’s questions about bladder function, prolapse symptoms and incontinence are now standard. YouTube is full of pelvic floor exercise videos and there are new books on the subject every year. Pelvic floor therapy has also become established in physiotherapy and in yoga, Pilates and senior training. The instructor repeatedly tells partici pants «tighten the pelvic floor» . Men now also realise that they have a pel vic floor. Many things have changed for the better.

The aim is to find out together what is needed in terms of perception trai ning, drinking and toilet behaviour, holistic and specific muscle training, an optimal lifestyle for each indi vidual to maintain their own pelvic floor healthy and how this valuable experience can be successfully inte grated into everyday life,

I was shocked 30 years ago that as a qualified ACP nurse and state recognised fitness instructor, I had never heard of the pelvic floor. Okay, I was young at the time, had not had any children yet and nobody in our family suffered from a weak bladder or incontinence. I learned how to catheterise the bladder and how to change the nappies of the

www.rueckencenter.com

Yvonne Keller

Born 1965

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STRONG and VITAL No. 4 - 2024