Hi Friends! The holidays are here and that often means trying to find the perfect gifts. That may be for loved ones, for the holiday party at work, or anyone else in your life. Here are 5 gifts that are pelvic floor approved!
#1 The Squatty Potty is a fan favorite at gift exchanges! It certainly gets the room laughing, but many times it will make life easier by helping to prevent straining while pooping. Using the toilet stool helps to relax a muscle called the puborectalis. When the puborectalis muscle relaxes, this allows the rectum to straighten and allow for easier pooping (Grimes, 2021).
#2 A TENS Unit has so many uses and can be helpful in many ways. Research has shown that TENS is a good treatment option for many individuals with pain (Sharma, 2017). It is a safe and effective form of pain-relief for most individuals. A TENS unit is most commonly used on the back, shoulders, and legs, but TENS has also been shown to be a safe alternative to pain medications during labor (Njogu, 2021). TENS can also be used to treat individuals with overactive bladder symptoms (Bristow, 1996). Be sure to check with your provider to make sure that TENS is safe for you before using.
#3 A yoga ball, sometimes called a stability ball or a Swiss ball, can be great for almost anyone. If anyone you know is pregnant, this ball is great to sit on (and often more comfortable) late in pregnancy and can even be used during labor and delivery. It can also be a great option for people who sit for long periods of time and can be swapped instead of sitting on a chair. For people that love exercise, there are an endless number of exercises that can be done using the ball.
#4 A massage lacrosse ball is a great stocking stuffer. Ever had a pesky knot on your upper back that you just couldn’t reach? The lacrosse ball is a great way for easy relief. Pain in your feet? Rolling the ball on your feet can help release tension. The lacrosse ball can also be great for relieving pelvic floor tension.
#5 Know someone struggling with pelvic organ prolapse? Maybe after having a baby or as they get older? myPelvic Bra was specifically designed to help support the pelvic floor muscles. This can help with managing symptoms like pelvic organ prolapse to help individuals live happy, active lives! The great news: right now it’s 10% off so don’t wait!
Whatever gifts you decide to buy for loved ones, we want to wish you a Happy Holidays and hope the new year brings good health, happiness, and fun!
Want to learn more about your pelvic floor muscles? Here are some helpful resources:
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Providers: check out myPFM Academy to learn more so you can better help your clients. With two membership options, you have access to courses, a growing library of patient handouts, hundreds of custom sharable images and infographics, and multilingual resources.
Written by Emily Reul, PT, DPT
References
1. Bristow SE, Hasan ST, Neal DE. TENS: A treatment option for bladder dysfunction. Int Urogyn J.1996;7:185-190.
Grimes WR, Stratton M. Pelvic floor dysfunction. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing;2021 Jan. PMID: 32644672.
Njogu A, Qin S, Chen Y, Hu L, Luo Y. The effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation during the first stage of labor: a randomized controlled trial. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2021;21(1):164.
Sharma N, Rekha K, Srinivasan JK. Efficacy of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in the treatment of chronic pelvic pain. J Midlife Health. 2017;8(1):36-39