How long does it take for the pelvic floor muscles to recover after childbirth?

Regardless of whether it is a natural birth or a caesarean section, the expansion of the uterus during pregnancy causes our pelvic floor muscles to widen. At this time, we need to repair the body after delivery to ensure that the ligaments will not relax and cause complications. The recovery time of the pelvic floor muscles after delivery is determined by the individual's exercise volume. Some people will recover after half a year, while others will need about three years to recover.

Principles and basic principles of postpartum pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation

The main goals and basic principles of postpartum pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation are to improve the contraction ability of the pelvic floor muscles, prevent and treat PFD, and improve the quality of sexual life. In 1940, Dr. Arnold Kegal proposed the Kegal training method to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and reduce the occurrence of urinary incontinence. On this basis, biofeedback technology, electrical stimulation and other technologies are used to greatly improve the therapeutic effect of pelvic floor rehabilitation therapy.

3.1 Pelvic floor muscle exercise Pelvic floor muscle exercise (PFME), also known as Kegal exercise.

The method is to tighten the anus, tighten it for at least 3 seconds each time, and then relax.

Do it continuously for 15 to 30 minutes, 2 to 3 times a day; or do PFME 150 to 200 times a day, 6 to 8 weeks as a course of treatment.

Pelvic floor muscle training needs to take into account 5 aspects :

① Strength, the maximum tension that can be produced by muscle contraction;

② Rate, the ratio of maximum tension to the time required to reach maximum tension;

③ Duration, the length of time a muscle contraction can last or be repeated;

④Repeatability, the number of times the contraction can be repeated to reach a certain tension;

⑤ Fatigue: Maintaining muscle contraction to reach the required or expected tension produces fatigue.

Type I fiber training focuses on strength, duration, and repetition;

Type II fiber training mainly focuses on strength, speed and fatigue.

3.2 Electrical stimulation of the pelvic floor muscles Electrical stimulation can increase the excitability of the nerve muscles, awaken some nerve cells whose functions have been suspended due to pressure, and promote the recovery of nerve cell function. Electrical stimulation stimulates the contraction of the external urethral sphincter, further enhancing sphincter contraction through neural circuits and improving urinary control. Electrical stimulation of nerves and muscles excites and inhibits sympathetic pathways, inhibits bladder contraction ability, reduces detrusor metabolic level, increases bladder capacity, and enhances urine storage capacity. Electrical stimulation therapy is an active means to promote nerve function recovery after surgery. It can passively exercise muscle strength, prevent muscle atrophy, and restore nerve function. Electrical stimulation relieves pain caused by muscle spasms by relaxing the pelvic floor muscles, directly inducing a therapeutic response or regulating abnormalities in lower urinary tract function.