Ep 141: What you need to know about pelvic floor health and strength training

If you've been wanting a masterclass on pelvic floor health, look no further. Ashleigh interviews Dr. Caroline Packard, DPT, a pelvic floor physical therapist, lifelong athlete, and mother of three who is changing the way women think about their bodies, their strength, and what's actually possible after pregnancy, injury, or years of being told their symptoms are just "something to manage." 

They discuss:

• What coaches and active women get wrong when they separate "core training" from pelvic floor function
• Symptoms women normalize that are actually pelvic floor dysfunction
• How to tell whether the issue is strength, tension, coordination, timing or pressure management
• What breath and bracing should look like during strength training to protect pelvic floor function
• How to modify without fear-mongering or telling women to stop lifting
• How to progress back to heavier training, impact or intensity in a way the body can actually support

All that and more - if you have any questions or want us to continue to cover this topic, reach out at musclescience4women@gmail.com.

Dr. Packard has created the Connect app, featuring an extensive program grounded in pelvic floor physical therapy principles and built around five progressive training phases: Prep, Reset, Integrate, Strength Fundamentals, and Elevated Strength. Members begin by learning how the diaphragm, deep core, posture, and pelvic floor function together to manage pressure and stabilize the body, then systematically apply that foundation to increasingly challenging strength work. Ashleigh has been using the app herself for months and calls it the most comprehensive guide to understanding and improving pelvic floor function that she's ever seen. 

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