Is your pelvic floor stopping you from regaining a flat belly? 

Quiz Questions

• 1.
  Do any of these apply to you? (Click all that apply)

  • A.
    Given birth in the last 12 months
  • B.
    Leak urine or loss of bowel control with coughing, laughing, sneezing, or jumping/exercise
  • C.
    Fallen heavily onto your tailbone or buttocks (even in childhood)
  • D.
    Intercourse feels different or not as enjoyable since having kids
  • E.
    Have a history or lower back, hip, groin pain, or have had sciatica
  • F.
    Get up more than 1 time per night to go to the bathroom
  • G.
    None of the above apply
• 2.
  Do you feel “looser” down there after children or as you age?

  • A.
    Yes
  • B.
    No, if anything tighter
  • C.
    I don't feel any different
• 3.
  Do you ever feel like you may leak urine or stool trying to get to the bathroom

  Image Source

  • A.
    Yes
  • B.
    No 
• 4.
  Do you have any general pelvic pain (including vaginal pain, abdominal pain, SI Joint or Hip Pain

  Image Source

  • A.
    Yes
  • B.
    No
• 5.
  Do you ever feel like you are unable to completely empty your bladder OR have to void within a few mins of a previous void.

  Image Source

  • A.
    Yes
  • B.
    No
• 6.
  Do you have deep pain with intercourse, using a tampon or with GYN exams?

  • A.
    Yes
  • B.
    Yes I always have
  • C.
    No
• 7.
  Do you have a strong sense of urgency when you have to urinate (you go from not needing to go to I need to go NOW – get out of my way).

  Image Source

  • A.
    Yes
  • B.
    No, never
• 8.
  Do you ever experience a feeling of heaviness/vaginal pressure or like something is “falling out” of your vagina?

  • A.
    Yes, most days (especially at the end of the day)
  • B.
    Occasionally after strenuous activity
  • C.
    Occasionally but only around ovulation or just before my period is due
  • D.
    No

Quiz Outcomes

• 1.
  A tight/over-active pelvic floor can cause a lower and/or mid belly pooch

  Based on your answers you may have a tight (over-active/hypertonic) pelvic floor. When your pelvic floor doesn't relax, it means that the rest of your core doesn't function correctly either.This tension can cause a "hardish" lower belly OR mid-belly bulge. This mid-belly bulge can happen if there is also tension under the rib-cage.Click the link below to download a PDF explaining more along with some exercises that can help.
• 2.
  A loose/under-active pelvic floor can cause a lower and/or whole belly pooch

  When your pelvic floor is stretched out and weak, you will find it harder to contract it and possibly hold that contraction.Because our lower transverse abdominis - TVAs work alongside your pelvic floor, this will often mean they are weak and under active as well.It is the TVAs that protect your back and flatten your belly - so we want BOTH the pelvic floor and the TVAs to be strong and functioning correctly.Click the link below to download a PDF explaining more along with some exercises that can help.
• 3.
  A tight pelvic floor can cause a lower and/or mid belly pooch

  Based on your answers you may have a tight (over-active/hypertonic) pelvic floor. When your pelvic floor doesn't relax, it means that the rest of your core doesn't function correctly either.This tension can cause a "hardish" lower belly OR mid-belly bulge. This mid-belly bulge can happen if there is also tension under the rib-cage.That heaviness that you sometimes feel could possibly be a low grade prolapse that is only evident after strenuous exercise and/or the hormonal shifts that happen during ovulation or right before your period.Click the link below to download a PDF explaining more along with some exercises that can help.
• 4.
  A loose pelvic floor can cause a lower and/or whole belly pooch

  When your pelvic floor is stretched out and weak, you will find it harder to contract it and possibly hold that contraction.Because our lower transverse abdominis - TVAs work alongside your pelvic floor, this will often mean they are weak and under active as well.It is the TVAs that protect your back and flatten your belly - so we want BOTH the pelvic floor and the TVAs to be strong and functioning correctly.That heaviness that you sometimes feel could possibly be a low grade prolapse that is only evident after strenuous exercise and/or the hormonal shifts that happen during ovulation or right before your period. Due to the weak pelvic floor it is important that you listen to your body so that you do not make this worse.Click the link below to download a PDF explaining more along with some exercises that can help.
• 5.
  A tight/hypertonic pelvic floor can cause a lower and/or mid belly pooch

  Based on your answers you may have a tight (over-active/hypertonic) pelvic floor. That heaviness that you feel could possibly be a prolapse. If you haven't yet been to a pelvic floor PT (Womens Health Specialist) I would highly recommend you do so that know that you are loading your core correctly and helping your pelvic floor.When your pelvic floor doesn't relax, it means that the rest of your core doesn't function correctly either, and often if we feel heaviness we clench our glutes to protect the pelvic floor which can ultimately make things worse, put our alignment out and increase the tension out to our belly making it look bigger.This tension can cause a "hardish" lower belly OR mid-belly bulge. This mid-belly bulge can happen if there is also tension under the rib-cage.Click the link below to download a PDF explaining more along with some exercises that can help.
• 6.
  A loose/hypotonic pelvic floor can cause a lower and/or whole belly pooch

  When your pelvic floor is stretched out and weak, you will find it harder to contract it and possibly hold that contraction.Because our lower transverse abdominis - TVAs work alongside your pelvic floor, this will often mean they are weak and under active as well.It is the TVAs that protect your back and flatten your belly - so we want BOTH the pelvic floor and the TVAs to be strong and functioning correctly.That heaviness that you feel could possibly be a prolapse. If you haven't yet been to a pelvic floor PT (Womens Health Specialist) I would highly recommend you do so that know that you are loading your core correctly and helping your pelvic floor.Click the link below to download a PDF explaining more along with some exercises that can help.
• 7.
  Possible Low-Grade Prolapse

  That heaviness that you sometimes feel could possibly be a low grade prolapse that is only evident after strenuous exercise and/or the hormonal shifts that happen during ovulation or right before your period. Due to the weak pelvic floor it is important that you listen to your body so that you do not make this worse.It could indicate either a loose and weak or tight and weak pf - but inorder to regain a functional core and a flat belly you will want to get this sorted and understand how to reduce the symptoms first.Click the link below to download a PDF explaining more along with some exercises that can help.
• 8.
  Possible Prolapse

  That heaviness that you feel could possibly be a prolapse. If you haven't yet been to a pelvic floor PT (Women's Health Specialist) I would highly recommend you do so that know that you are loading your core correctly and helping your pelvic floor.It could indicate either a loose and weak or tight and weak pf - but in order to regain a functional core and a flat belly, you will want to get this sorted and understand how to reduce the symptoms first.Click the link below to download a PDF explaining more along with some exercises that can help.
• 9.
   🎉🎈Congratulations🎈🎉

  Based on your answers, your pelvic floor seems to be functioning correctly - yay you 🎉So if you are still struggling to get a flat belly then it could be due to some other reason - here are a couple of the most common reasons that I see:1) Diastasis Recti2) Tight Hip Flexors3) Alignment4) NutritionClick the link below to download a PDF explaining more along with some exercises that can help.