Pelvic Health Physical Therapy

It’s not uncommon for women to come to our clinic feeling hopeless. Pelvic pain, prolapse, diastasis recti.. all of these conditions are things that women are told are just something they need to accept as their “new normal”.

Even though something may be very common, it doesn’t mean that there isn’t a solution for it.

Women who have had children and those who have not had children, this is your sign! We know that leaking and pain are made out to be something you have to deal with as a woman… look at all of the products that exist to “help” you deal with these annoying symptoms. We’re here to tell you that “just deal with it” and “it is what it is” and “just use a pad” is BS advice, and if you’re looking for an actual long-term solution, we’re your people.

It’s so much more than just, “Do your Kegels!”

We’ve heard this time and time again, and we promise that pelvic health physical therapy is so much more than Kegels.

Pelvic health physical therapy is very beneficial for any woman; both those who have had a vaginal or cesarian birth and those who have not been pregnant.

If you’re a woman who has been pregnant and given birth, cesarean or vaginal, you know what a free-for-all it can feel like. Add exercise to the mix and oftentimes women are just told to “listen to their bodies” (ugh.) And it’s A-OK to wonder if everything is okay “down there” after birth. That’s what we’re here for.

Who we work with as pelvic health physical therapists:

  • Women prepping for birth

  • Postpartum women recovering from birth (cesarian or vaginal)

  • Those who are leaking when they laugh, cough, sneeze, lift, etc.

  • Women with pelvic pain, pressure in the pelvis, pain with intercourse

  • Those with a diagnosis of a prolapse

  • Women who may be postpartum or pregnant and want to continue strengthening safely or get back to running or other sports after birth

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Outcomes our patients have after pelvic health PT

  • No Leaking

    Leaking doesn’t need to be a part of your daily life, even after kids!

  • Prepared for Birth

    Having education on birth positions and expectations is a standard.

  • Diastasis Recovery

    There are so many things we can do to help mitigate effects of your diastasis recti.

  • Relief from Pain

    You don't have to live with chronic pelvic pain. We can help!

Frequently Asked Questions

 

  • The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that are on the bottom side of the pelvis. They attach from your pubic bone to your tail bone and are between your sits bones. These muscles support your internal organs as well as a baby while you’re pregnant.

    These muscles:
    —Help provide stability in your hips, low back, and core
    —Support your abdominal organs
    —Play a large role in breathing mechanics
    —Have a role in sexual function
    —Allow you to hold and expel urine, gas, and feces

  • Pelvic floor physical therapy at Renegade is focused on restoring optimal function to these muscles and treating the diagnoses and symptoms listed in the question below. Pelvic floor physical therapy is always integrated as a whole-body treatment, rather than just treatment of the muscles inside and around the pelvis.

  • Pelvic health physical therapy can help treat lots of diagnoses and symptoms as well as help you prepare for birth and recover after birth (both cesarian or vaginal).

    —Prolapse
    —Incontinence (fecal or urinary)
    —Pelvic pain
    —Pain associated with the low back, pelvic girdle, sacroiliac joint (SIJ), public symphysis, or tailbone
    —Pregnancy-related aches and pains
    —Preparation for birth and recovery after birth
    —Pain with intercourse
    —Leaking during exercise
    —Pelvic heaviness
    —Pain associated with endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, cramping during menstruation
    —Diastasis recti
    —Gut and bowel issues
    —Male pelvic health concerns such as testicular pain, prostatitis, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation or pain with ejaculation, Peyronies Disease, and more

  • Pelvic health PT sessions look a lot like our orthopedic sessions in lots of ways. The whole body is considered during these examinations and treatments.

    One thing that sets us apart at Renegade is that we will help you get back to what you want to do. Example: if you want to get back to jump roping without leaking, then we will be working on that during sessions. Pelvic health physical therapy is much more than just working the muscles around the pelvis.

    Sometimes an internal examination is indicated (never required) where your PT will examine the pelvic floor musculature internally. Continue reading for more details.

  • When you come in for your initial examination, your PT will start with an extensive interview of your health history and experience.

    From there, an external examination will be performed. Your back, hips, abdominals, and pelvis will be assessed. Things that will be looked at include mobility, stability, and strength. After an external examination, an internal examination may be indicated to also look at the same things for the internal muscles of the pelvic floor.

    An internal examination is never mandatory and your PT will discuss the results of the external exam with you as well as the indications for an internal examination. The benefits of an internal examination include being able to visualize and truly understand the muscles inside the pelvis, which provide a lot of information about what’s going on in that area.

    Consent is of the upmost importance and your PT will continually ask for consent before and during the examination. You are able to withdraw consent at any time.

    This exam is very gentle in nature and your PT inserts one or two gloved fingers into your vagina or one finger in your rectum. This allows the therapist to directly palpate the muscles inside the pelvis and note any tension or weakness of the muscles. It also allows the therapist to determine the exact coordination of the musculature during movement, coughing, laughing, and breathing, which can assist with the overall treatment.

    A speculum is not used and inserted into the vagina or rectum. (We don’t even have a speculum in the clinic.)

    While the internal pelvic examination is the gold standard for examination and treatment of pelvic floor musculature, it is never a mandatory procedure and if you choose to forego the internal examination, you will be able to receive treatment from your physical therapist based on the external examination.

  • This is a much more supported experience. There are no speculums during the exam and care is taken to explain the internal pelvic exam in full before and during the examination (if indicated and consented for).

  • Absolutely. We integrate the whole body at Renegade. You are never being treated for “just” your pelvis. Everything in the body is connected so we assess and treat as such.

  • YES! There are other things in the body that are related to the pelvic floor and are often symptoms that coincide with pelvic floor symptoms. These things include low back pain, SI joint pain, pinchy/tight hips, constipation, abdominal pain, abdominal bloating, GI disorders, PCOS, endometriosis, painful periods, history of birth, history of abdominal surgeries, trauma to the pelvic region, tailbone pain and/or injuries, hysterectomies, LEEP procedures, jaw pain or TMJ dysfunction, neck pain and/or tightness, headaches, sciatica, piriformis syndrome, foot and ankle pain, chronic ankle sprains, and more.

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