Pelvic Floor

The pelvic floor muscles are a wonderful, hard-working part of the body that deserve a special kind of attention it often misses out on! Maintaining a strong pelvic floor is essential to continence (bladder and bowel health) and sexual function.

Find out more about pelvic health and pelvic floor muscles below.

How to do pelvic floor muscle exercises

Pelvic health physiotherapist Leanne Wait explains how to do pelvic floor muscle exercises in a clear and easy-to-follow way, using a female pelvic anatomy model to help you understand where the muscles are and how they work.

We also have a video with pelvic health physiotherapist Liz Childs, who demonstrates the exercises using a male pelvic anatomy model, so you can choose the guidance that best matches your body.

Find out more about pelvic floor muscle exercises

Jump to a Pelvic Health Topic:

What are Pelvic Floor Muscles?
Strengthening Your Pelvic Floor Muscles
Pelvic Health During and After Pregnancy
Where to Get Help
Relevant Information and Resources

What are Pelvic Floor Muscles?

pelvic health guide cover
Guide

Pelvic Health Guide

Inside the guide, you will find advice on pelvic floor muscle basics, including simple explanations, practical tips and demonstrations, and where else to find help. Featuring videos from experienced pelvic health physiotherapists Liz Childs and Leanne Wait.
Video series

Introduction to Pelvic Floor Muscles

These introduction videos include pelvic floor muscle basics, such as where they are and what role they play in your body.
What are pelvic floor muscles? (featured above)
What do pelvic floor muscles do?
Anatomy of the pelvic floor muscles (male pelvic anatomy model)
Video series

Issues with Pelvic Floor Muscles

Because bladder, bowel, and pelvic health are often not talked about, it can be difficult to know whether or not you might have an issue, what is “normal”, and when you should consider seeking help. Watch our videos on pelvic floor muscle issues to find out more.
What can go wrong with pelvic floor muscles?
General symptoms of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction
What options are there to improve incontinence?
Online training

Prostate Cancer and the Pelvic Floor Muscles

Developed with support from the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand, this training covers what happens after a radical prostatectomy, how pelvic floor muscle training can help, and how you as Prost-FIT trainers can help the men attending your classes.

Please note that although this training was originally developed for Prost-FIT trainers, the content can be useful for anyone who wants to learn more about this topic. Enrol for free here.

Strengthening Your Pelvic Floor Muscles

Sticker

Pelvic Floor Digital Sticker

Download or order our helpful sticker or magnet to help you remember how to do your pelvic floor exercises.
pelvic floor guide
Guide

One-page Pelvic Floor Guide

A simple, one-page guide featuring pelvic health physiotherapist Liz Childs. Download it here (PDF). You can also download a simpler, printer-friendly version here (PDF).
Video series

Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises

Just like any other muscle, strengthening your pelvic floor muscles helps to keep them functioning well. Because it’s hard to activate muscles you can’t see, people often have difficulty with exercising their pelvic floor muscles. These videos help you to learn how to exercise your pelvic floor muscles correctly.
Why are pelvic floor muscle exercises important? (featured above)
How to do pelvic floor exercises (female pelvic anatomy model)
How to tell if you are doing pelvic floor exercises correctly (female pelvic anatomy model)
How to activate your pelvic floor muscles (male pelvic anatomy model)
How to tell if you are doing pelvic floor exercises correctly (male pelvic anatomy model)
Things to avoid when doing pelvic floor muscle contractions
Pamphlet: Bladder control problems women
Brochure

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training in Women

A Continence NZ brochure available for download (PDF), including information about the pelvic floor muscles, starting your pelvic floor training programme, and progressing your programme. If you would like to order one physical copy, this is free. Please call 0800 650 659 or email info@continence.org.nz to order. If you would like to order more than one physical copy, we do have a charge. Please see the order form for prices or visit our online store .
Pelvic floor muscle training for men pamphlet
Brochure

Pelvic Floor Muscle Training in Men

A Continence NZ brochure available for download (PDF), including information about the pelvic floor muscles, starting your pelvic floor training programme, and progressing your programme. If you would like to order one physical copy, this is free. Please call 0800 650 659 or email info@continence.org.nz to order. If you would like to order more than one physical copy, we do have a charge. Please see the order form for prices or visit our online store.
Video series

Pelvic Floor Exercise Myths

There are a number of myths and misunderstandings when it comes to pelvic health and pelvic floor muscle exercise. Watch our myths videos to better understand how, when, and why you may need to exercise your pelvic floor.
"I don't have any problems, so I don't need to worry about my pelvic floor" (featured above)
"I do pelvic floor exercises, so I don't have to worry"
"It's too late to strengthen my pelvic floor now"
"I need to rush to the toilet, I need to strengthen my pelvic floor"
"I need to drink eight cups of water a day"
Video series

Reducing Pelvic Floor Muscle Strain

If you have pelvic floor issues, it is important to take extra care when engaging in general exercise and activity. Our videos will help you choose activities that may be less likely to cause new or worsen existing pelvic floor problems.
How can lifestyle choices help your pelvic floor muscles?
Reducing pelvic floor muscle strain when bending and lifting (featured above)
Reducing pelvic floor muscle strain when emptying your bowel
Reducing pelvic floor muscle strain when moving from sitting to standing

Pelvic Health During and After Pregnancy

Guide

Pregnancy Guide

Everything that’s helpful, honest, and practical that you need to know about your bladder, bowel, and pelvic health before, during, and after your pregnancy.
Video series

Pelvic Health During and After Pregnancy

Pregnancy is one of the more common times when people think about their pelvic health. Pregnancy changes place extra stress on the pelvic floor, and vaginal delivery can create further issues. Watch our pregnancy videos to learn more about pelvic health during and after pregnancy.
How does pregnancy affect the pelvic floor? (featured above)
How might delivery affect my pelvic area?
Who should do pelvic floor exercises during pregnancy?
Perineal massage
What is a prolapse and how do I know if I have one?
What are the symptoms of a prolapse?
What happens to the abdominal muscles during pregnancy?
What happens to the abdominal muscles after pregnancy?
"Bladder leakage is normal is you've had children"
Having sex during pregnancy
Having sex after pregnancy
Returning to exercise after baby is born
"I can't exercise in pregnancy - it's not safe"
Returning to running after having a baby
"I had a Caesarean section; my pelvic floor is fine"

Where to get help

Webpage

Who Can Help?

Find out more about some of the people and organisations who work in continence care.
old woman chatting with doctor at clinic
Webpage

Continence Service Providers

Ready to get help? We have a list of Continence Service Providers across Aotearoa, which you can search by region.
Video series

Pelvic Health Physiotherapy FAQs

Liz and Leanne answer these common questions about pelvic health physiotherapy:
What is a pelvic health physiotherapist and what do they do? (featured above)
How do I know if I need to see a pelvic health physiotherapist?
What happens during a visit with a pelvic health physiotherapist?
How long does pelvic health physiotherapy treatment take?
What could the cost of pelvic health physiotherapy treatment be?
Can all physiotherapists treat pelvic floor problems?
How does a pelvic health physiotherapist assess the pelvic floor muscles?

Relevant information and resources

pelvic health guide cover
Video Guide

Pelvic Health Guide

Featuring videos from experienced pelvic health physiotherapists Liz Childs and Leanne Wait.
Webpage

Bladder and Bowel Health

The aim of these resources and information is to help you better understand your bladder and bowel – including what is "normal" or "healthy", how you can prevent issues from happening in the first place, and how to know when to seek help from a professional.
Podcast

The Pelvic Pod

The Pelvic Pod is a space for real, open conversations about bladder, bowel, and pelvic health — the kind we don’t hear often enough. Through expert insights and lived experience, we share practical knowledge, break down stigma, and offer reassurance for everyday life. These honest conversations help normalise pelvic health and remind listeners they’re not alone.
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