Tailbone pain… not just a pain in the butt
Hello lovelies!
Happy Spring!! Here is your Power to the Pelvis Newsletter for April! We've been having a mix of weather here in Colorado - as is to be expected, we can go from sunny and 70° to snowy and 28° in a matter of hours (in the same location... I'm serious!!). I've been talking to friends and clients lately about tailbone pain and discomfort, whether it's from sitting in one position too long, post childbirth, or even feeling like your tailbone has disappeared. Read on...
* Tip of the Month: Tailbone pain
Something I commonly see in my practice (especially in postpartum women) is tailbone pain.
Tailbone pain, also known as coccydynia, can be a real pain in the...well, you know. And sometimes it can be linked to problems with your pelvic floor. Let's dive deeper into that:
How are tailbone pain and pelvic floor dysfunction related?
Muscle tension: If your pelvic floor muscles are tight or overactive, they can pull on your tailbone, causing pain. This tension can be caused by stress, poor posture, or even certain activities.
Weakness: On the flip side, weak pelvic floor muscles can also contribute to tailbone pain. Without proper support, your tailbone may be more prone to injury or strain.
Injury: Sometimes, a fall or other trauma can injure both your tailbone and your pelvic floor muscles. This can lead to a cycle of pain and dysfunction.
What can you do?
If you're experiencing tailbone pain, it's a good idea to see a doctor AND a pelvic floor therapist. They can help you determine the cause of your pain and recommend the best course of treatment. Here are some things that might help:
Pelvic floor therapy: A pelvic floor therapist can teach you exercises to strengthen and relax your pelvic floor muscles, work on mobility of the tailbone, and improve your glute strength to support your bum.
Posture correction: Improving your posture can take pressure off your tailbone and pelvic floor. I usually recommend sitting directly on the sit bones when possible.
Stretching: Regular stretching can help loosen tight muscles and improve flexibility.
* IG I'm loving:
Lauren Ohayon is one of my favorite people. She is raw, real, and provides lots of great tidbits of info/exercises for relief in all areas of your body. Here is one of her insta vids for tailbone pain and some relieving postures/movement you can do.
* BLOG I'm reading:
Lately I've been diving into more books about hormones and hormone health. I have been playing around with intermittent fasting, and really love the stuff that Mindy Pelz has been putting out. I recently borrowed her book Eat Like a Girl from our library and found some delicious, hormone-supporting recipes that everyone in your family can enjoy.
Some of my fave recipes I'm looking forward to trying are:
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad
Maple Peanut Butter Fudge
Buddha Bowl
Flourless Chocolate Almond Torte
You can purchase Eat Like a Girl here, or use your local library!! There are some free recipes on her website that look delicious as well!
