Vulvodynia: Can Exercise Aggravate It? & How to Combat It

Did you know that you can get enormous relief from vulvodynia pain through a combination of different modalities. If you consult a Vulvodynia Pain Specialist, they will give you an accurate diagnosis, & put you on a holistic Personalised Treatment Plan. This is likely to include multiple types of conventional & cutting-edge treatments, & one of the favoured treatments to help combat vulvodynia is pelvic floor relaxation exercises

Pelvic Floor Relaxation Exercises

These types of exercises are regularly recommended by Vulvodynia Pain Specialists, as not only have they been scientifically proved to be successful, they can also be done by patients in the privacy of their own home.

Before commencing the exercises, it is important to first understand some basic anatomy:

The pelvic floor comprises a group of muscles along with supporting tissue which act as a supporting floor for the pelvis. These run from the pubic bone at the front of the body, to the base of the spine and tail bone (coccyx) at the back of the body. The pelvic floor supports the bladder, bowel, cervix and womb (uterus). [1]

“Exercising the muscles of the pelvic floor can help strengthen the pelvic floor, & will also help you learn how to relax these muscles when you need to” [1]

Instructions

• Find a quiet private room where you will not be disturbed
• Sit on a firm chair with your feet slightly apart and resting on the floor. – Or if you find it more comfortable, lie down on the bed (facing upwards), with a pillow under your knees for support
• Place one hand over your stomach (with your fingers stretched out)
• Now focus on the region around your vagina, and begin to tighten your muscles (imagine that you are trying to stop passing urine)
• Next, squeeze and lift the muscles around your vagina and back passage, without simultaneously pulling the thigh muscles or buttocks 
• Breath gently, and DO NOT hold your breath
• Squeeze the muscles for as long as you can (up to 10 seconds)
• Then let the muscles fully relax (for around 4 seconds), as you try to relax the pelvic floor
• Now repeat the sequence
• Practice these pelvis floor exercises every day. (But be sure not to rush them)
• You should see an improvement within 6-8 weeks (which you should report to your Pain
• Consultant)

Reference

[1]. NHS Tayside. “Techniques to help with Vulvodynia.”