How do I know if my pelvic floor muscles are tight or weak?
Symptoms of pelvic floor tightness and weakness can be similar so it can be hard to tell. And pelvic floor muscles that are tighter can also be weak. Here are some common symptoms to help determine what might be going on down there.
Symptoms of pelvic floor muscle weakness:
- bladder leakage with coughing, sneezing, laughing, exercise
- having to urinate more than 8 times per day and/or waking at night to urinate
- difficulty stopping a stream of urine
- dribbling after urination
- sudden urinary urgency and having to rush to the toilet
- loss of control of the bladder or bowels
- constipation
- heaviness in the pelvis or a “falling out feeling”
- pain with sex
- difficulty holding back gas
Symptoms of pelvic floor tension:
- constipation
- difficulty emptying the bladder completely
- straining or pushing to empty the bladder
- having to urinate more than 8 times per day and/or waking at night to urinate
- sudden urinary urgency and having to rush to the toilet
- bladder leakage
- painful urination or UTI like symptoms
- frequent UTIs
- difficulty starting a stream of urine and/or slow flow
- pelvic pain
- pain with sex
- low back/coccyx/hip/abdominal pain
Treatment for pelvic floor tightness and pelvic floor weakness is often very different so it’s important to know what the cause of the symptoms is. In pelvic physical therapy we determine the cause for long term resolution of these issues. We use a full body approach, as there can be many different factors involved depending on the individual.
