Muscle Mania

Sometimes I provide what some people (including myself) may consider TMI. But I figure why the heck not?

You may recall that I've had ongoing back issues, brought on by rowing and exacerbated by biking and scoliosis, improved by PT, yoga, foam rollering, chiropractor visits, and sports massage, about half of which I haven't been doing during the pandemic. Only a few people know that I have, well, I'll just say it - - constipation issues - - that become very annoying when, say, doing a 5-day bike ride. Add to the mix some "lady issues" that my last two gynecologists shrugged at. Well, I have a new gynecologist. She said, "yeah, I think you've got some issues related to, but not entirely caused by, the fact that you're starting menopause," and she suggested that I could benefit from pelvic floor PT.

I've gone for a month and it is FASCINATING. It is almost entirely all ab exercises (and anything else really isn't anything more unusual than a pelvic exam that you have with your annual pap) and it is helping all of the above issues. As is my Zoom Pilates class. 

I figure I should say something because talking about vaginas and whatnot is so taboo. We can't even barely talk about menstruation in our culture - - something so basic and fundamental - - so how are we going to get to a place of discussing constipation, sexual health, etc.? Oh, and pelvic floor PT is not just for the ladies, you gents. 

Also fascinating? Learning about the massively intensive training that pelvic floor PT therapists need to have to do their jobs.

We focus so much on quads, hamstrings, biceps, triceps, etc., it makes sense that there are other little, important, more hidden muscles. I guess the point of this post is this: if you think something isn't right, talk to someone else who might have more creative ideas rather than someone who just shrugs, and if the solution involves some crazy-sounding thing like pelvic floor PT, you might give it a shot.