Pelvic floor–What is it?

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that function to support our pelvic and abdominal contents including the bladder, rectum, intestines, and vaginal wall and uterus if you have them. These muscles are also intimately related to bowel and bladder function, sphincteric and urethral function, sexual function, as well as breathing. If the pelvic floor muscles are dysfunctional, you may see issues with any of the functions listed above.

All people have pelvic floors, including men. If you are experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction, a pelvic floor physical therapist can perform an evaluation to assess the muscles and how they may be related to your symptoms.

Who needs it?

People who experience:

Pelvic Pain at Rest
Endometriosis
Tailbone pain
Interstitial Cystitis
Pregnancy or post-partum
Vaginismus or Vulvodynia
Bowel or bladder dysfunction
Urge to urinate frequently, during the day or at night
Prostatitis or Prostate removal
Pelvic, abdominal, hip, or low back pain during or after sexual activity
Pain with insertion of tampons, gynecological or prostate exams, urination or bowel movements
Urinary or fecal incontinence associated with or without activity including jumping, running, laughing, coughing
Abnormal sensation in or around the pelvis including numbness, tingling, or bulging or pressure
Abdominal or pelvic surgery including hysterectomy, c-section, prostatectomy, prolapse repair, laproscopy, vaginal rejuvination

If you are experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction, a pelvic floor physical therapist can perform an evaluation to assess the muscles and how they may be related to your symptoms.

What to expect

First, your physical therapist will ask you a series of questions related to your symptoms. We understand that the pelvic floor and associated symptoms with dysfunction are personal and strive to provide a safe and comfortable environment in which you feel you can express your symptoms and concerns freely.

Your therapist will evaluate your movement, joints, and muscles surrounding the pelvis and core. If you are an appropriate candidate, your therapist will perform an internal examination of the pelvic floor muscles that are located inside the pelvis to adequately assess how the muscles work together and activate, their strength, ability to relax, and general ability to function appropriately.

Often the muscles may require manual therapy to release trigger points or general muscle tightness. Other times the muscles may be long and underactive, and primarily require strengthening. After the assessment, your therapist will provide you with strategies to address any myofascial restrictions found, manage symptoms, and strengthen or relax the pelvic floor muscles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

Do I have to do an internal examination?

Nope! Our highest priority is your comfort and sense of safety in our care. If you don’t feel comfortable with an internal assessment, we will not perform one. There is no pressure to have one either, the pelvic floor is an incredibly dynamic system and group of muscles, and we can often treat it without directly assessing the muscles themselves.

Is this TMI?

Nope! In our field, what feels like TMI is often pertinent information that we need to provide the highest level of care for you. No topic is off-limits. Quality of your poop, discharge, period blood, or urine - we want to know. Pain with sex in certain positions? Tell us more. Queefing? We’re here to hear about it.

I’m on my period, should I come in?

Totally! We still perform internal exams whether you are on your period or not - it makes no difference to us. However, we understand if you don’t want to go through with an internal exam on those days! If not, we can still address your strength, movement, nervous system, and symptoms, even without the internal portion of the session.

Pelvic Floor

Supporting your pelvic floor & recapturing your health

Frequently Asked Questions

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

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Pelvic Floor

Supporting your pelvic floor & recapturing your health

Pelvic floor–What is it?

Who needs it?

What to expect

Frequently Asked Questions

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

Do I have to do an internal examination?

Is this TMI?

I’m on my period, should I come in?

More physical therapy services

Pregnancy & Postpartum

Men's Health

Menopause

Pelvic Floor on the blog

When It’s Go Time: Pushing Through Labor

Breathing for stress management

Do you have vaginismus?

Get back to your best life

Are we hitting it off?

Connect with Us