The Ultimate Guide to Pelvic Floor Exercises That Relieve Low Back Pain
How Your Pelvic Floor Can Affect Your Lower Back
Low back pain is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It can range from mild to severe and can be caused by various factors, including poor posture, pregnancy, age-related degeneration, and injury.
Managing Low Back Pain Through Pelvic Floor Exercises
Pelvic floor exercises are an effective way to manage lower back pain. These exercises target the pelvic muscles that support the spine and help reduce tension in the lower back muscles and support the abdominal organs. They also help improve core stability and posture, reducing strain on the lower back muscles. Other benefits include improved balance; lowered risk of falls; improved breathing; prevention of back pain; and improved circulation.
With regular practice, Kegel exercises, pelvic tilts, and knee raises can relieve low back pain and improve overall health.
Yoga poses are also a great way to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. When done correctly and with proper alignment, yoga postures can help tone the core muscles to improve their strength and endurance.
The following yoga poses help to activate your pelvic floor muscles, increasing their strength and stability. Using proper form when doing yoga poses is essential to maximize the benefits for your pelvic floor.
Bridge Pose:
Start by laying on your back with your feet flat on the floor and your arms by your side.
Press into your feet and lift your hips off the ground, pressing your chest towards the sky.
Keep your back neutral and press firmly into the mat.
Engage your core muscles as you press down through both feet to reach an even higher peak of the pose.
Hold a few breaths, then slowly lower your hips to the mat.
Cat/Cow Pose:
Start on your hands and knees (all 4’s) with your wrists directly under your shoulders and hips over your knees.
Inhale, press into all 10 toes evenly, then drop your belly as you lift your sternum and heart up to the sky.
On the exhale, press down through your fingers and toes and round through your spine like a cat stretching out its back.
Squat Pose:
Stand with your feet hip-width apart and toes slightly pointing out.
Bend your knees and lower down into a squat, keeping your chest lifted and spine long.
Hold the pose for a few breaths, then slowly rise to standing.
Plank Pose:
Start in a plank position with your hands under your shoulders and your legs straight with your toes on the floor keeping your back straight.
Begin to alternate pressing down through your right hand and left foot, then lift your left hand and right foot off the floor.
Keep the breath even.Keep your core engaged as you move back and forth between each arm/leg switch.
Continue for 10–15 repetitions keeping your breath even.
Bird Dog:
Start on your hands and knees (all 4’s) with your wrists directly under your shoulders and hips over your knees.
On an inhale, lift and extend one arm forward while the opposite leg lifts behind you in a straight line.
Be sure to engage your core muscles as you hold this pose for a few breaths.
Return to starting position, then switch sides and repeat.
The yoga poses mentioned above are just a few yoga postures that can strengthen the pelvic floor.
In addition, the diaphragm is an integral part of this process. As you inhale, the diaphragm contracts and moves downward, forcing air into the lungs and expanding the ribcage. On your exhale, the diaphragm relaxes, moving upward and allowing air to be expelled from the lungs.
During core-focused workouts, engaging your diaphragm can help you get a deeper breath, exert pressure on the internal organs, and strengthen the pelvic floor. Notice how your body moves with each inhalation and exhalation so that you can focus on achieving better overall health.
By incorporating yoga poses and proper breathing techniques into your fitness routine, you can experience the many benefits of yoga and breath work, improve the strength of your pelvic floor muscles and reduce your back pain. Remember to practice yoga safely and with proper form for maximum benefit.
