RUNNING WITH PELVIC FLOOR ISSUES
On one side running is a great way to get and stay fit and healthy, and you can even do it with your little one while being outside. So, plenty of benefits for moms! On the other side it is a high impact sports, and this impact shouldn’t be taken lightly especially if you are experiencing pelvic floor issues after you’ve given birth (even that was a longer while ago). Your organs are using your pelvic floor as a hammock and bounce up and down on them while you run. If your pelvic muscles are not happy and healthy, they won’t be able to support any of this. So, should you do it, should you run with pelvic floor issues?
RUNNING WITH PELVIC FLOOR ISSUES
Running with pelvic floor issues is possible BUT you have to do it in a safe and conscious way. What do I mean by that? By conscious I mean that you should be aware of what you are doing with your body, and what is happening during running (s. what I wrote above about the hammock). Do your research! By safe, I mean you should get help to heal and/or manage whatever you are experiencing, so that you are not injuring yourself further and end up with more problems than you initially started with.
STEPS TO SAFE RUNNING WITH PELVIC FLOOR ISSUES
The first step to running safely is to understand what the actual problem is. What kind of symptoms are you experiencing, in general, before, during, or after a run:
Pelvic pain
Leaking
Heaviness
Feeling a lump “down there”
Bleeding
All of them are a good reason to see your OBGYN and/or a pelvic floor therapist. This should be your second step toward safe running. Some pelvic floor issues can heal by themselves over time but often they just get worse, so go see someone and have it assessed. Tell them that your goal is to go back or start running. If they tell you that this won’t be possible with your condition, get a second opinion.
The third step is to work with your pro on rehab and get their clearance for running. This might take a while and it might involve some adjustments on your side but in most cases, it will be possible to start or return to running.
PROMISE ME TO GET HELP
Ok, one last, short section: getting help, doing all is needed, … will take time but I promise you it will be worth it. And you deserve it! You are a mama who takes care of everyone else. Give yourself permission to take care of yourself. Do this for you! Go get help and be able to run safely for a very long time.
Happy healing, Eva
Disclaimer: Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting any type of exercise program.