How to Prepare your Pelvic Floor to Run!

As we are heading to warmer weather on the horizon, many people feel spring fever and want to get outside and start running!

Maybe you were a runner years ago, maybe you want to get back into running after having children, or you want to get started for the first time with running.

There are a lot of misconceptions about running for your pelvic floor. And no, running is not bad for your pelvic floor. But if your pelvic floor is not prepared for the impact of running, then we start to notice things like incontinence with running. Which can be frustrating to deal with.

You might think the answer is to just do some kegals, but it is much more involved than that. Understanding the relationship between your pelvic floor and core is key, as well as addressing mobility and the ability to lengthen the pelvic floor.

Here are some ways to prepare your pelvic floor for running.

1.) Understand how your pelvic floor and deep core muscles work, and work on addressing limitations in your pelvic floor muscle activation.

2.) Address pelvic and hip mobility. This can have a huge impact on the way that you pelvic floor works.

3.) Work on functional exercises for hip and pelvic floor activation. Mimicking movements that you would see in running, such as jumping, landing, and single leg work.

Before starting a running program, work with a pelvic floor physical therapist! They can help address all of these issues and get you back to running in a safe way so that you can enjoy it!