While pumping iron can build sturdy muscles, some moves may cause other areas of the body to go soft.<\/p>\n
![\"Man](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/athletic-young-man-barbell-squats-126103546.jpg\")
While lifting weights has numerous health benefits, some exercises can be detrimental to performance in the bedroom. Xalanx \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n
Pelvic floor muscles keep your core stable, hold organs in place and help with basic bodily functions \u2014 but overworking them can lead to chronic tightness and eventually, sexual dysfunction.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe muscles around your pelvic floor play a role in erections and arousal,\u201d personal trainer Toby King<\/a> told The Post. \u201cIf they are constantly tight or overloaded, then they can restrict the blood flow and compress nerves that are essential for healthy sexual function.\u201d<\/p>\n Over time, this can result in pelvic pain, pain during sex, pain during masturbation and ejaculation, bladder issues and daily discomfort.<\/p>\n So what should you watch out for? Anything that involves heavy bracing, such as squats, deadlifts and even ab-focused routines<\/a>, can cause gym-goers to subconsciously tense their pelvic floor muscles without realizing, King explained.<\/p>\n \u201cA lot of men are walking around constantly braced,\u201d he said. \u201cThey tighten during lifts, they\u2019re often tight all day too, and over time, this creates an overactive pelvic floor, which can interfere with erections and even cause pain.\u201d<\/p>\n This can also be brought on by leg presses, ab rolling, hanging leg raises and even planking that holds tension in the core.<\/p>\n Cyclists and triathletes should also take note, as King says long sessions on a poorly set-up saddle can put pressure on the nerves and muscle tissue surrounding the area.<\/p>\n He compared this constant tension to working the biceps without giving them a rest, as over time, the muscle would stop working.<\/p>\n And while it can be tempting to push the limits and add more weight, heavy loads and poor technique can also worsen the issue.<\/p>\n \u201cIf your form is off and you\u2019re not breathing correctly, then that pressure has to go somewhere, and often it ends up in the pelvic floor,\u201d King added.<\/p>\n Worrying about symptoms can also bring on more stress, causing more tension and starting a vicious cycle of a too-tight pelvic floor.<\/p>\n King doesn\u2019t recommend completely avoiding moves like squats and deadlifts that are good for body composition, but instead suggests reassessing your routine and limiting exercises that heavily target the groin, inner thighs and deep hip muscles while symptoms are present.<\/p>\n Learning how to relax tight pelvic muscles is key to reversing any problems. Start by doing \u201cbreathing work and stretches for your glutes and hips, such as the child\u2019s pose and the happy baby pose,\u201d King said.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/beautiful-girl-frustrated-man-sitting-124888156_07d12f.jpg\")
Moves like squats, deadlifts and core routines can tighten pelvic floor muscles, causing erectile dysfunction. Graphicroyalty \u2013 stock.adobe.com<\/p>\n