Can coughing really affect your pelvic floor?

We are starting to see more and more people in the clinic who have recovered from the acute symptoms of covid - 19, but some people are left with unusual symptoms. One of the more common, although slightly upsetting, symptoms is accidental leakage of urine when they cough or sneeze.

Why would my pelvic floor be impacted by coughing?

We're glad you asked..

Did you know that when you cough or sneeze, you put more pressure on your pelvic floor than running, or jumping or lifting and carrying 18kg. We rely on our pelvic floor contracting at the right time in order to support our organs and keep us dry. This is especially important when you cough or sneeze.

If you already have a mild pelvic floor dysfunction, coughing, such as with covid-19 or other illness may result in issues including light bladder leakage or worsening of pelvic organ prolapse symptoms. There are a range of reasons the pelvic floor can be affected by coughing, but two of the most common are:

1. Muscle (Neurological) timing problems
2. Tired Muscles (pelvic floor fatigue)

Title

You can perform ‘the knack’. ‘The knack’ is a well timed strong contraction of the pelvic floor usually just prior to a cough or sneeze. But it can be used prior to any increases in intra-abdominal pressure. We've put together a video describing ‘The Knack’.

If you have any questions our team is here to help

Disclaimer: This blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute the practice of medicine, nursing or other professional health care services, including the giving of medical advice, and no practitioner/patient relationship is formed. The use of information on this blog or materials linked from this blog is at the user's own risk. The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard, or delay in obtaining, medical advice for any medical condition they may have, and should seek the assistance of their health care professionals for any such conditions.