Andrew Siegel MD 8/27/16
Note that PFM form floor of the “barrel” of core muscles. Illustration by Ashley Halsey from THE KEGEL FIX: Recharging Female Pelvic, Sexual and Urinary Health
Our bodies are comprised of a variety of muscle types: There are the glamour, overt, seen-and-be-witnessed muscles that offer no secrets, the “what you see is what you get” muscles. Then there are muscles that are shrouded in secrecy, hidden from view, veiled from sight, concealed and covert. The pelvic floor muscles (PFM) are in the latter category.
Strong puritanical cultural roots influence our thoughts and feelings about our nether regions. Consequently, the genital and anal zones often fail to command the respect and attention that other areas of our bodies command. Frequently ignored and/or neglected, this locale rarely sees the light of day and most people never think about exercising the important functional muscles in this anatomical sector.
Most women and men can probably point out their “bi’s” (biceps), “tri’s” (triceps), “quads” (quadriceps), “pecs” (pectorals), etc., but who really knows where their “pelvs” (PFM) are located? For that matter, who even knows what they are and how they contribute to pelvic health? Think for a moment about the PFM…How essential—yet taken for granted—are sphincter control, support of your pelvic organs and, of course, their key contribution to sexual function?
Unlike the glitzy, for show, external, mirror-appealing glamour muscles, the PFM are humble muscles that are unseen and behind the scenes, often unrecognized and misunderstood. Cloaking increases mystique, and so it is for these PFM, not only obscured from view by clothing, but also residing in that most curious of nether regions—the perineum—an area concealed from view even when we are unclothed. Furthermore, the mystique is contributed to by the mysterious powers of the PFM, which straddle the gamut of being vital for what may be considered the most pleasurable and refined of human pursuits—sex—but equally integral to what may be considered the basest of human activities—bowel and bladder function.
The PFM are hidden gems that work diligently behind the scenes and on a functional basis you would be much better off having “chiseled” PFM as opposed to having “ripped” external muscles.” Tapping into and harnessing the energy of the PFM—those that favor function over form, “go” rather than “show”—is capable of providing significant benefits. The PFM are the floor of the core muscles and seem to be the lowest caste of the core muscles; however, they deserve serious respect because they are responsible for very powerful functions, particularly so when intensified by training. The PFM are among the most versatile muscles in our body, contributing to the support of our pelvic organs, control of bladder and bowel, and sexual function. Although the PFM are not muscles of glamour, they are muscles of “amour.”
Bottom Line: You can’t see your PFM in the mirror. Because they are out of sight and out of mind, they are often neglected or ignored, but there is great merit in exercising vital hidden muscles, including the heart, diaphragm and PFM. This goes for men as much as it does for women, since in both genders these muscles provide vital functions and are capable of being enhanced with training.
Wishing you the best of health,
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Author of THE KEGEL FIX: Recharging Female Pelvic, Sexual and Urinary Health– and MALE PELVIC FITNESS: Optimizing Sexual & Urinary Health available on Amazon Kindle, Apple iBooks, B&N Nook and Kobo; paperback edition available at TheKegelFix.com
Author page on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Andrew-Siegel/e/B004W7IM48
Apple iBook: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-kegel-fix/id1105198755?mt=11
Trailer for The Kegel Fix: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHZxoiQb1Cc
Co-creator of the comprehensive, interactive, FDA-registered Private Gym/PelvicRx, a male pelvic floor muscle training program built upon the foundational work of renowned Dr. Arnold Kegel. The program empowers men to increase their pelvic floor muscle strength, tone, and endurance. Combining the proven effectiveness of Kegel exercises with the use of resistance weights, this program helps to improve sexual function and to prevent urinary incontinence: www.PrivateGym.com or Amazon.
In the works is the female PelvicRx DVD pelvic floor muscle training for women.
Pelvic Rx can be obtained at http://www.UrologyHealthStore.com, an online store home to quality urology products for men and women. Use promo code “UROLOGY10” at checkout for 10% discount.
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