Pelvic Floor Q & A

I decided to do a very short Q & A about the pelvic floor to get things started off here!

What is your pelvic floor?

Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles at the very bottom of your abdominal/pelvic cavity. There are three layers of muscles that all work together to support your pelvis and pelvic organs and stabilize your pelvis during movement. The pelvic floor muscles support all of your bladder, bowel & sexual functions.

Does everybody have a pelvic floor?

Yes! Everybody has a pelvic floor. The only difference is that some muscles function a little bit differently in females and males due to our different organs and reproductive characteristics.

What pelvic floor conditions do physical therapists treat?

  • General groin or sacroiliac (SI) joint pain

  • Chronic pelvic pain - including pain related to menstruation, endometriosis and irritable bowel syndrome (just to name a few)

  • Pain with sexual activity & penetration

  • Pelvic organ prolapse

  • Incontinence

  • Constipation

  • Difficulty returning to exercise postpartum

& so many more!

Do women only need pelvic floor physical therapy after giving birth?

No! Women can benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy to treat the conditions listed above. Many of these conditions can be present in women who have not given birth or never been pregnant. If you ARE pregnant, you can see a pelvic floor PT to address any pain or discomfort you are experiencing during pregnancy to help prepare for childbirth.

What about men?

Of course! Men have pelvic floors too and a pelvic floor PT can absolutely address your concerns related to pelvic pain, incontinence, and sexual dysfunction.

How can physical therapy help?

A pelvic floor physical therapist can perform an evaluation to address the concerns that you are having and develop a treatment plan to help you reach your goals. Pelvic floor PTs typically work in general outpatient orthopedic PT clinics and are experienced in treating the entire body; however, they have also received specialized training to treat the pelvic floor specifically. Pelvic floor physical therapy has been shown to improve symptoms for all of the conditions listed above! If you need help finding a pelvic floor therapist, please do not hesitate to contact me!

Mary Voves