Pelvic floor dysfunction causes urinary symptoms, constipation, pain, or pressure. Learn what really causes pelvic floor issues and how pelvic floor therapy retrains your body to function again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pelvic floor dysfunction is one of the most under-diagnosed contributors to bladder changes, pelvic pain, constipation, and sexual discomfort. Many people are told to \u201cjust do Kegels,\u201d but pelvic floor health is so much more complex than squeezing muscles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a Doctor of Physical Therapy specializing in pelvic floor and lymphatic therapy<\/strong>, my goal is to help you understand why<\/em> your symptoms developed and what it truly takes to restore healthy pelvic function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues at the base of the pelvis. These muscles stabilize your spine and hips and support your urinary, bowel, sexual, and core function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The pelvic floor is responsible for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n When the pelvic floor isn\u2019t functioning well, you may experience:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Research shows that pelvic floor dysfunction often develops from a combination of mechanical and inflammatory factors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Common contributors include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Chronic stress and guarding<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system, tightening pelvic muscles the same way it tightens your jaw or shoulders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Postural changes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Loss of lumbar lordosis (a common finding in SI pain and tailbone pain) changes pelvic angles and increases strain on the pelvic floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Hormonal changes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Progesterone, estrogen, and postpartum shifts all influence connective tissue, pelvic stability, and muscle activation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Pregnancy and delivery<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Even without tearing or trauma, pregnancy alone can create muscle imbalances and nerve sensitivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Chronic constipation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Straining increases pelvic floor tension, which ironically makes emptying even harder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. Pelvic inflammation and lymphatic stagnation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Inflammation from endometriosis, pelvic congestion, lymphatic flow issues, or bowel inflammation makes the muscles more reactive and tender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7. Abdominal surgeries<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n C-section, appendectomy, laparoscopy, and other abdominal procedures create scar tissue that alters core-pelvic coordination. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Pelvic PT isn\u2019t just internal work or exercises. It is a whole-body, neurological retraining process<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My treatment approach includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Hands-on work<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Myofascial release, trigger point work, abdominal wall release, visceral mobility, and internal work when indicated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Breath retraining<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Your diaphragm and pelvic floor must coordinate. If not, pressure builds and symptoms worsen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Core & SI alignment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Gentle stabilization restores symmetry and reduces strain on the pelvic floor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Lymphatic therapy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Reducing inflammation improves muscle relaxation, pelvic comfort, and bowel\/bladder mechanics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Nervous system down-training<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Pain is amplified when your nervous system feels unsafe; we retrain the input so the body can calm down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. Personalized home program<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019re given simple, targeted movements\u2014not random exercises from a handout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n How You Start Healing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You do not<\/strong> need to live with pelvic pain, urinary symptoms, or bowel dysfunction. With the right approach, the pelvic floor can learn to relax, coordinate, and support you again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your symptoms sound familiar, pelvic floor therapy can help you rebuild your foundation and restore function. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Pelvic floor dysfunction causes urinary symptoms, constipation, pain, or pressure. Learn what really causes pelvic floor issues and how pelvic floor therapy retrains your body to function again. Pelvic floor dysfunction is one of the most under-diagnosed contributors to bladder changes, pelvic pain, constipation, and sexual discomfort. Many people are told to \u201cjust do Kegels,\u201d […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[9,11,6,7,10,8],"class_list":["post-883","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pelvic-floor-therapy","tag-how-pelvic-floor-therapy-helps","tag-how-to-start-healing-the-pelvic-floor","tag-pelvic-floor-dysfunction","tag-pelvic-floor-therapy","tag-pelvic-pt","tag-why-pelvic-floor-therapy-is-important"],"yoast_head":"\n
What the Pelvic Floor Actually Does<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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Why Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Happens<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
How Pelvic Floor Therapy Helps (My Treatment Approach)<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n