Many women experience pelvic floor issues at some point in their lives — often after pregnancy or surgery, or simply due to aging. Unfortunately, these problems are rarely discussed, even though they can have a significant impact on comfort, confidence, and quality of life. Pelvic floor physical therapy offers a safe, effective, and non-invasive way to restore strength, coordination, and function to this vital group of muscles.
What is Your Pelvic Floor?
Your pelvic floor consists of muscles and connective tissues that support important organs in your pelvis. This includes your bladder, large intestine, and internal reproductive organs. They hold these organs in place and give you the flexibility to have sex, have a bowel movement, and urinate. For women they support vaginal delivery during childbirth.
What is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
Pelvic floor physical therapy focuses on the muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues that support the bladder, uterus, and rectum. When these muscles become weak, tight, or uncoordinated, you can develop problems such as urinary leakage, pelvic pain, or difficulty with bowel movements. An especially trained physical therapist can assess how these muscles are functioning and use gentle techniques to help restore proper movement and control.
Common Conditions Pelvic Floor Therapy Can Help
Pelvic floor physical therapy can benefit women experiencing a wide range of concerns, including:
Urinary or Fecal Incontinence — Strengthening and retaining pelvic muscles can reduce or eliminate leakage.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse — Therapy can help relieve pressure and improve muscle support, keeping your uterus, rectum, or bladder from hanging out.
Postpartum Recovery — Rebuilding pelvic strength after childbirth helps prevent long-term issues.
Pelvic Pain or Discomfort — Manual therapy and relaxation techniques can reduce tension and pain.
Pain During Intercourse (Dyspareunia) — Soft tissue work and muscle retraining can make intimacy more comfortable.
Core Weakness and Lower Back Pain — Strengthening pelvic muscles improves posture and stability, giving you much-needed pain relief.
Benefits of Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Improved Bladder and Bowel Control — Many women can regain confidence and freedom from leaks through targeted exercises and retraining.
Reduced Pain and Discomfort — Manual therapy techniques can release muscle tension and improve blood flow to the area.
Enhanced Sexual Health — Healthy pelvic muscles can improve comfort and sensitivity, supporting sexual wellness.
Better Core Strength and Stability — The pelvic floor is part of your body’s “core system.” Strengthening it supports overall balance and movement.
Postpartum Healing — Therapy can help with tissue recovery, scar mobility, and re-education of muscles after childbirth.
Improved Quality of Life — When pelvic health issues are addressed, daily activities, confidence, and overall well-being all improve.
What to Expect During Treatment
Your first appointment typically involves a detailed conversation about your symptoms and medical history, followed by a gentle physical exam to assess your pelvic floor muscles. Your therapist will use a combination of the following techniques:
Stretching or Strengthening Exercises — Our therapists will teach you how to do exercises, such as kegels or reverse kegels, to stretch and strengthen pelvic muscles.
Relaxation Techniques — Therapists may use hands-on techniques like soft tissue massage and myofascial release to address pelvic muscle restrictions.
Biofeedback — This technique helps patients learn to properly control and coordinate their pelvic muscles.
Coordination Exercises — These exercises include movements such as pelvic twists, kegels, and squats to engage the pelvic floor and improve muscle responses in addition to biofeedback.
Education and Retraining — Our therapists will educate you on how behavior and lifestyle habits can impact your pelvic floor, and give you advice on posture, diet, and stress management.
Electrical Stimulation — Our therapist may use gentle electrical currents to strengthen and retrain pelvic floor muscles.
Pre- and Post-Op Care — Physical therapists can help support your muscles before and after surgery, ensuring you have a strong and supportive pelvic floor.
When going to physical therapy to improve your pelvic muscles, remember that it may take time to see progress, so you’ll need to be patient. However, completing the exercises given to you by your therapist will help you enhance your treatment.
If pelvic floor therapy makes you feel self-conscious and uncomfortable, make sure you find a therapist you feel safe with and can communicate any questions and express any concerns freely without fear of judgment.
Improve Your Pelvic Floor to Improve Your Quality of Life
Pelvic floor physical therapy empowers women to take control of their health in a private, supportive, and effective way. Whether you’re dealing with postpartum changes, incontinence, or chronic pelvic pain, working with a qualified therapist can help you feel stronger, more confident, and more comfortable in your daily life.
