The Case for Hypopressives – Why They Are THE Choice for Pelvic Pain, Pelvic Organ Prolapse and Post-Partum Recovery

In my work as an osteopath in women’s health I come across a variety of conditions. I see patients in antenatally, during pregnancy, women recovering from birth, patients suffering from long-term pelvic issues secondary to scarring following tears or episiotomies, prolapses, bladder problems, gut issues, rectus diastasis (separation of the abdominal muscles), diaphragm and breathing issues, postural issues, headaches, and dozens of other conditions that would be beyond the scope of this article.

Osteopathic treatment works well in the treatment of many of these issues. The focus is often the balancing of pressures between the abdomen and thorax which create a big component of pelvic dysfunction and pathology. In treatment, there are specific areas that can be treated in order to balance this pressure and reduce the amount of force acting upon the pelvis and its organs. However, a big focus of mine is usually also homework to support and maintain the changes effected in a session.

An effective way of regularly working on the pressure balance in your abdomen and pelvis are so-called hypopressive exercises. These brilliant breathing exercises focus on creating a vacuum in the abdomen and pelvis to lift the pelvic floor without squeezing it, lift the organs, aid the return of blood and also engage the abdominal muscles without actively squeezing them.

Why hypopressives are the perfect choice for post-partum recovery:

The post-partum body has to do lots of things – it has to integrate the physical changes still present from pregnancy with the new body after giving birth whilst healing and dealing with considerable hormonal upheaval to achieve balance again.

Hypopressives gently support the repositioning of the pelvic organs, increase blood supply and tissue regeneration, start to engage the abdominal muscles and bring them back together following likely separation, lift the pelvic floor and can help engage this too without the risk of exacerbating muscle imbalance like Kegels might, especially if tears or an episiotomy had happened.

Why hypopressives are the perfect choice for pelvic organ prolapse:

Your pelvic organs sit on top of your pelvic floor – but that doesn’t mean they are held up by it. The uterus, bladder and rectum are all suspended by ligaments from above or the pelvic walls or sides. They rely significantly on postural integrity, abdominal tone and a number of different structures to stay well-supported and ‘sucked up’ by the internal pressures present in the body.

Hypopressives work on all of the above by lifting the organs, improving posture and abdominal tone, stretching fascial adhesions and even lifting the pelvic floor without having to forcefully contract it.

Why hypopressives are the perfect choice for digestive issues:

Your gut health is dependant on many things, such as diet, bacterial balance, blood supply, stress levels, and just about everything else going on in your body. The gut however also is affected by abdominal pressure, and if this pressure increases beyond a certain level, it will compromise blood supply, gut positioning and function.

Because hypopressives lift the organs and reduce the pressure acting upon the gut and its blood vessels as well as aiding suspension of the gut, they are an excellent choice for supporting gut health and increasing visceral tone and peristalsis.

Why hypopressives are the perfect choice for breathing problems:

Breathing is compromised in many people – and one reason is the improper function of the diaphragm and other breathing muscles. If we sit a lot or are stressed, upper chest breathing becomes dominant and diaphragmatic breathing becomes only secondary. The result is that the ability to fully breathe through the diaphragm is gradually lost, affecting not only energy levels and breathing/lung volume itself, but also the balance between the pressure in the abdomen and chest.

Hypopressives can help tone the diaphragm again and re-establish full abdominal breathing, thereby aiding the increase of lung volume volume and circulation in the chest and abdomen.

How to do hyporessives:

For more info on how osteopathy may be able to help you, do contact me through my contact form, use the button above for WhatsApp or to give me a call, or DM me on any of my socials @heilkraftosteopathy.