Fitness Fall-Out - a Growing Female Concern

Worldwide, women over 40 are unknowingly causing their pelvic floor irreparable damage. While it's good that baby boomers understand the need to exercise and stay active, many are damaging their insides and exacerbating existing pelvic floor problems with inappropriate exercise. Most women and even some health practitioners do not know about this issue. A new book by Michelle Kenway, a Brisbane-based physiotherapist, along with urogynecologist Judith Goh addresses these problems and teaches women how to exercise effectively and protect their insides.

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia (PRWEB) May 21, 2009 -- Pelvic floor dysfunction (http://www.sunset-digital-books.com/health-fitness/pelvic-floor/index.html) is a common problem for women over 40. Author Michelle Kenway, physiotherapist, and co-author Judith Goh, urogynecologist, have written a guide to help women protect the pelvic floor from irreparable damage. Their new book is titled: Inside Out, An Essential Guide to Pelvic Floor Strengthening (http://www.sunset-digital-books.com/health-fitness/pelvic-floor/index.html).

Worldwide, countless women are unwittingly damaging their pelvic floor region through inappropriate exercise and by using some common equipment at the gym. Women in various at-risk groups are encouraged to exercise, but repeated inappropriate exercise and poor technique can cause catastrophic pelvic floor problems.

Prolapse problems involve a woman's insides literally falling out through her vagina. This can cause a woman considerable anxiety, embarrassment, and physical discomfort when severe. Some women even stop exercising altogether. Conditions such as uterine prolapse often present unexpectedly in a woman's middle years when her pelvic floor starts to weaken and stretch, failing to support her insides. This may also be a time when a woman is faced with gynecological issues such as hysterectomy recovery or bladder prolapse surgery and then wants to return to exercise safely.

Many women in their middle years face other physical changes. Weight gain, decreased physical strength, and loss of tone and fitness are commonplace. In their desire to stay healthy and active, some women decide to attend a fitness class or gym. Unfortunately well-intentioned exercise trainers and instructors are usually completely unaware of their client's vulnerable pelvic floor, bladder control problems and even previous gynecological surgery. Many women unknowingly perform exercises that are inappropriate and in fact contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction as a result.

Experts Michelle Kenway (physiotherapist) and Professor Judith Goh (urogynecologist) have teamed up to write the guide. Both authors have seen hundreds of women performing the wrong types of exercises for the right reasons.

"Some women actually present to the gynecologist after joining the gymnasium because they find that they now leak urine with exercise or feel that there is a vaginal prolapse. Many of the exercises and gymnasium machines are designed for those without risk of pelvic floor problems," Professor Judith Goh said.

Exercises like sit-ups, though common in gyms and exercise classes, are contributing to distressing pelvic problems in women at risk. Research shows that sit-up exercises cause downward pressure on a woman's pelvic floor. Women at increased risk of pelvic floor injury after childbirth, with menopause, or following hysterectomy or vaginal prolapse surgery, should not perform these types of exercises.

"I started to notice a bulging heavy feeling in my vagina especially after the gym and I was absolutely devastated when my doctor told me that I had a uterine prolapse … I had no idea that childbirth, and the wrong kind of exercise, could affect me this way," said one woman, Carol, age 47.

Inside Out is an illustrated and professionally produced digital book (eBook) designed to help women with:

•    essential everyday understanding of a woman's pelvic floor anatomy

•    innovative and comprehensive strength, fitness and weight loss exercise workouts with expert tips and safety guidelines

•    understanding of potentially unsafe exercises in popular classes (including yoga/pilates/circuit), gyms and gym equipment to avoid for pelvic floor protection

•    secrets for finding pelvic floor muscles and prescription of effective pelvic floor exercises (kegels)

•    guided safe abdominal core work outs

•    stories to read from women who have experienced pelvic floor distress and exercised successfully long term.

Inside Out: the essential women's guide to pelvic support can be purchased online only at: http://www.sunset-digital-books.com/health-fitness/pelvic-floor/index.html.

Following the advice in this eBook, at-risk women can address their pelvic floor problems and exercise with confidence and control. In some cases, pelvic floor symptoms can even be reversed through pelvic floor exercises.

About the authors

Michelle Kenway (http://www.sunset-digital-books.com/health-fitness/pelvic-floor/michelle-kenway-author.html) is a Brisbane-based physiotherapist. As a private practitioner in women's health she has a comprehensive understanding of the health and fitness challenges confronting women. She is a highly experienced and respected consulting private hospital physiotherapist and private practitioner, and has also developed popular evidence-based exercise programs to help women exercise safely and stay active. Michelle treats women in hospital and following gynecological surgery. She conducts weekly exercise sessions for women with pelvic floor dysfunction, osteoporosis, back pain and following vaginal prolapse surgery.

Professor Judith Goh is a urogynecologist visiting Mater Private Redland, and Professor at the School of Medicine Griffith University, Queensland.

About Sunset Digital Books

The Internet's most innovative online bookstore provides the opportunity for authors and self-publishers to sell their professionally produced books in digital format only (eBook), direct to the public via the Internet. For more than 25 years, Sunset Digital has been providing publishing services to major book publishers and self-publishers.

For further information or to get a free PDF extract of this digital book, contact:

Richard Hudson

CEO, Sunset Digital Books (www.sunset-digital-books.com)

"The Internet's most innovative bookstore"

ceo(at)sunset-digital-books.com

61732369898

To immediately download this guide go to http://www.sunset-digital-books.com/health-fitness/pelvic-floor/index.html. Learn safe and effective pelvic floor exercises (http://www.sunset-digital-books.com/health-fitness/pelvic-floor/index.html) to promote pelvic floor health.

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