New Workout Helps Build Up Pelvic Floor

RENO (CBS13) - It's a problem that many women have but no one talks about.

Many women, especially after having children, have trouble controlling their bladders, but relief may be on the way.

Dr. Bruce Crawford is a gynecologist, a pelvic floor specialist, and has started the first pfilates gym in the country.

"The pelvic floor muscles naturally respond to movement," said Crawford.

It's a popular method in Canada and quickly catching on in the U.S.

"Half of women will experience a pelvic floor disorder in their life and 10 to 15 percent will have an operation as a consequence of it," said Crawford.

Pfilates is the term for pelvic floor pilates.

"A lot of people come to me and say it feels like everything is falling out down there," said Crawford.

The exercise can improve everything from incontinence to sex dysfunction in just a matter of months.

"We need to change the way we think about these problems and redefine them in our minds as fitness issues," said Crawford.

Some women end up having surgery, Crawford says that's a last resort.

These movements, practicing pfilates, could be life changing.

"If they understand this is a fitness issue there's something they can do about it, something they're familiar with," said Crawford.

Crawford opened the first pfilates gym in Reno after hearing complaints like this.

"I can't run, I can't jump, I constantly have to go to the bathroom," said one woman.

Now the technique is being taken to Chico; the goal is to bring it to major cities across the country.

"A simple program like this can help them avoid an operation and can give them confidence and help them feel better about themselves," said Crawford.

Crawford says the fitness routine is good for women both before and after kids, even men can benefit from it.

He says most people see results by consistently spending about 10 minutes a day doing pfilates.