Pelvic Health Therapy

What is pelvic health physical therapy?

Pelvic health physical therapy is physical therapy that addresses concerns related to the lumbopelvic region (trunk, pelvis, hips) including direct treatment of the pelvic floor. Pelvic health physical therapists have undergone specialized training in order to treat many pelvic health conditions that can occur across the lifespan.

What is the pelvic floor?

The pelvic floor is the group of muscles at the bottom of the pelvis that serve as support to the viscera (organs) and as part of your core system. Every person with a pelvis has a pelvic floor. These muscles are skeletal muscles and need to be able to shorten (contract) and lengthen (relax) appropriately for optimal function. When these muscles do not contract or relax appropriately it can affect your ability to maintain continence, provide support to your trunk and viscera, empty your bowel and bladder, and/or participate in intercourse.

Conditions that are treated and/or managed in pelvic floor physical therapy:

• Pelvic and pelvic floor pain
• Low back and hip pain
• Bladder or bowel incontinence (unintentional loss of urine or feces)
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Chronic constipation
• Difficulty voiding bladder or bowels
• Urinary frequency and urgency
• Overactive bladder syndrome
• Pre and postpartum concerns
• Diastasis recti (separation of abdominal muscles)
• Sexual dysfunction including painful intercourse and difficulty achieving arousal or orgasm
• SI joint dysfunction
• Tailbone pain
• Pain associated with endometriosis, adenomyosis, painful bladder syndrome (Interstitial Cystitis)
• Vulvadynia, vestibulitis
• Penile or testicular pain

Pelvic Health Conditions can impact your life in many ways including:

• Attending functions with unknown or limited access to bathrooms
• Participation in community activities
• Traveling by car or airplane
• Intimacy with your partner
• Managing stress