Maybe you're like me and exercising in the comforts of your home and using various virtual platforms. Just because you're at home, doesn't mean it's time to let the faucets leak...I mean your bladder. What are you doing to stay dry while you exercise?
Here's my top 4 must do's to stop leaking pee with exercise:
Fix your form: The way you're holding your body (aka posture) can impact whether you leak when you exercise. Ideally with certain exercises you'll want to start by finding a neutral posture where your rib cage is stacked over your pelvis. This gives your core (pelvic floor, abdominals, back muscles and diaphragm) the easiest way to figure out how to work together. This doesn't always apply, but it's a good starting point.
Breathe: When you breathe, it affects the pressure in your body and can be used during exercise to help your pelvic floor work for you.
Try a pelvic floor bra: Ok, fine, it's not really a bra, but it's the same concept. Sometimes people leak with exercise because they have prolapse and would benefit from some extra support down there. My suggestion is why not use a device such as a pessary (what I'm calling a pelvic floor bra) while you workout. It's a great way to stay active and not leak...while still working to improve your pelvic floor function.
Ask a pro: Find someone that's well educated in the pelvic floor and exercise. A pelvic floor PT is a great place to start, but there's also other exercise professionals that can be extremely helpful. Just make sure they can help you reach your goals and really listen to your concerns! Hey, guess what friends, I can help you with this through a private virtual session. Go here for a FREE 30 min consult to learn more.
Let me know how these work for you. Have a question? Let's clarify things...respond here and I'll answer your Q's in my next email.