Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy- No, it's not just kegels…
Pelvic health physical therapy focuses on restoring strength, control, and function of the muscles and tissues of the pelvic floor. It can help individuals experiencing issues that range from pelvic pain, incontinence, pre and postpartum recovery challenges, core weakness and beyond.
Our pelvic health specialist provides personalized, one-on-one care to help you move comfortably, regain confidence, and improve quality of life — whether you’re recovering from childbirth, surgery, or simply want better pelvic health and core strength.
• Urinary incontinence (leaking urine)
Urinary incontinence is the unintentional leakage of urine. It happens when a person loses control over their bladder, ranging from occasional small leaks to a complete inability to hold urine.
It’s common, treatable, and affects people of all ages — though it becomes more frequent with aging, pregnancy, prostate conditions, and certain medical issues.
Types of incontinence include stress (leaking with cough/sneeze, running/jumping), urge (strong urge to urinate followed by leaking), mixed (a combination of stress and urge), overflow (incomplete bladder emptying and leaking related to overflow), and functional (physical or cognitive challenges prevent getting to the bathroom on time)
• Urinary urgency/frequency
Urinary frequency means needing to urinate more often than normal.
Urinary urgency is a sudden, strong urge to urinate that is difficult to delay. They often occur together but have slightly different symptoms.
• Overactive bladder
Overactive bladder is a condition characterized by a frequent and sudden urge to urinate that can be difficult to control. The urge may occur even when the bladder isn’t full, and it can significantly affect daily life.
Some people with OAB also experience urine leakage (called urge incontinence), while others have urgency and frequency without leaking.
• Nocturia
Nocturia is the need to wake up during the night to urinate.
While occasional nighttime urination can be normal, waking more than once per night on a regular basis may indicate an underlying issue.
• Constipation
Constipation is a condition where bowel movements become infrequent, difficult, or uncomfortable to pass. It can be defined by fewer than 3 bowel movements a week, hard/dry/ lumpy stool, straining during bowel movements, feeling of incomplete emptying, sensation of blockage. This can be related to slow gut motility, pelvic floor dysfunction, ignoring the urge to go, medications, hormonal changes, or a medical condition.
• Fecal incontinence
Fecal incontinence is the involuntary loss of stool (feces), meaning a person cannot control their bowel movements. It ranges from occasional leakage of stool while passing gas to a complete loss of bowel control. Causes can include nerve or muscle damage, chronic constipation or diarrhea, or medical conditions including IBS/IBD.
• Pelvic pain
Pelvic pain refers to pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen and pelvis, the area between the hip bones. It can affect both men and women, though it is more commonly discussed in women because of reproductive organs. Pelvic pain can be acute (sudden, short-term) or chronic (lasting more than 6 months) and can range from mild discomfort to severe pain that interferes with daily life. Pain can be described as dull or sharp in lower abdomen, pelvis, or perineum, pain during urination, bowel movements, or sexual activity, or bloating, heaviness/pressure. Causes can include endometriosis, menstrual cycle, pregnancy, UTIs, prostate concerns, constipation, diarrhea, hernias, pelvic floor dysfunction, or neurological concerns.
• Pain with intercourse
Pain with intercourse, medically called dyspareunia, is discomfort or pain experienced before, during, or after sexual activity. It can affect anyone but is more commonly reported by women. The severity can range from mild irritation to sharp, severe pain, and it may be occasional or chronic. Causes may include hormonal change, infections, psychological or emotional trauma, medications, or pelvic floor dysfunction.
• Pelvic organ prolapse
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a condition where one or more of the pelvic organs—such as the bladder, uterus, rectum, or small intestine—drop or press into the vagina due to dysfunction. It can cause discomfort, urinary or bowel problems, and affect sexual function. Symptoms can include sensation or heaviness/pressure, bulging or tissue protrusion, pain, or bowel/bladder dysfunction. Causes can be related to pregnancy, hormonal change, stress, chronic constipation, surgery, or genetic factors.
• Endometriosis-related pain
Endometriosis-related pain happens because tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) grows outside the uterus—for example on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowel, bladder, or pelvic lining. This misplaced tissue still behaves like uterine lining during the menstrual cycle, and that leads to several sources of pain. Pain can be related to inflammation, bleeding, adhesions, scar tissue, nerve involvement, and chronic pain sensitizations.
• Pregnancy and postpartum recovery
Pregnancy and postpartum pelvic floor physical therapy focuses on strengthening, relaxing, and coordinating the muscles that support the bladder, uterus, and bowels. During pregnancy, therapy helps manage issues like pelvic pain, back pain, and pressure by improving posture, breathing, and pelvic stability. After childbirth, it helps the body recover from muscle stretching or injury by addressing problems such as urinary leakage, pelvic pain, abdominal separation, and discomfort with movement or sex. The goal is to restore normal pelvic function, reduce pain, and safely return someone to daily activities and exercise.
• Diastasis recti
Diastasis recti is a condition where the left and right sides of the abdominal muscles (the rectus abdominis) separate along the connective tissue in the middle of the abdomen, called the Linea alba. It commonly occurs during pregnancy as the growing uterus stretches the abdominal wall,
but it can also happen with significant abdominal pressure or improper core strain. This separation can cause a visible bulge in the midline of the stomach, core weakness, back pain, and reduced abdominal support. Treatment often involves targeted core and breathing exercises, often guided by pelvic floor physical therapy, to help restore abdominal strength and function.
• Post-prostate surgery recovery
Post-prostate pelvic floor physical therapy helps men regain bladder control and pelvic muscle strength after prostate surgery, such as a Prostatectomy. Surgery can temporarily weaken or disrupt the pelvic floor muscles that control urination and support the bladder. Physical therapy focuses on retraining these muscles through exercises, breathing techniques, and coordination training to reduce urinary leakage, improve bladder control, and support recovery of pelvic function. The goal is to restore strength, improve confidence with daily activities, and help patients return to normal movement and quality of life.
• Tailbone pain
Coccydynia, or tailbone pain, is discomfort around the Coccyx that can occur after a fall, prolonged sitting, childbirth, or strain of the pelvic floor muscles. Several pelvic floor muscles attach near the tailbone. Tension, weakness, or poor coordination in these muscles can contribute to pain in this area. Pelvic floor physical therapy helps by addressing muscle tightness, improving pelvic alignment, and teaching relaxation and strengthening exercises to reduce pressure on the tailbone and improve comfort with sitting and daily activities.
