How Does Physical Therapy Help Relieve Pelvic Pain? And Other Common Questions

Fundamental Physical Therapy
7 days ago
4 min read

Pelvic pain is more common than most people realize — and it can impact nearly every part of your life. Whether you notice pain when sitting, exercising, or during intimacy, discomfort in the pelvis can feel confusing, frustrating, and isolating.

The good news? You don’t have to live that way. Pelvic physical therapy is a gentle, evidence-based approach that helps uncover why the pain is happening and restores healthy movement and function to your body.

The pelvis is a hub of muscle, nerve, and connective tissue activity. When one part of that system isn’t working properly, it can cause a ripple effect of tension, imbalance, or pain. Through individualized treatment and education, physical therapy helps you find relief — and reconnect with confidence in your body.

🌿 How Does Physical Therapy Help with Pelvic Pain?

Your pelvic region is made up of a complex network of muscles, ligaments, fascia (connective tissue), and nerves that support your organs, spine, and hips. These tissues also help control bowel and bladder function, posture, sexual function and core stability.

When the pelvic floor or surrounding areas become tight, weak, or uncoordinated, they can trigger symptoms such as:

Sharp or aching pelvic pain
Pain during sitting, daily chores, exercise, or intimacy
Difficulty emptying the bladder or bowels
Pressure or heaviness in the pelvis
Pain that radiates to the hips, tailbone, or lower back

A pelvic physical therapist is trained to look beyond surface-level symptoms to find the root cause. Pain can result from:

Muscle imbalance or spasm (from posture, childbirth, or stress)
Compression or stretch injuries (such as from lifting or exercise)
Scar tissue restrictions (from C-section, hysterectomy, or tearing)
Nerve irritation (caused by tension or inflammation)
Joint dysfunction (in the hips, sacrum, or spine)
Changes associated with aging (general weakness or hormonal shifts)

Treatment may include gentle manual therapy to release tight tissues, relaxation and coordination exercises, breathing and posture training, and education on daily habits that support healing.

The goal is to help your body move comfortably and naturally again — without pain dictating what you can or can’t do.

Pelvic PT treatments are designed to be gentle and comfortable

💡 Are Kegels Good for Everyone?

One of the most common misconceptions about pelvic health is that Kegels are the solution for everyone. They are not.

Kegel exercises — intentional or subconscious tightening of the pelvic floor muscles — may be beneficial for certain conditions, like stress urinary incontinence (leakage with coughing or sneezing) or mild prolapse. However, many people with pelvic pain or tension already have overactive pelvic muscles. For them, doing Kegels can actually worsen pain, urgency, or discomfort.

Think of it like this: if your shoulders were constantly tight and sore, you wouldn’t do more shoulder shrugs — you’d work on relaxing and releasing the tension first. The same concept applies to the pelvic floor.

Pelvic physical therapy helps you learn what your body truly needs — whether that’s strengthening, relaxation, improved coordination, or a combination. You’ll learn how to connect with your muscles through breath, posture, and mindful movement, so you can build strength and control safely and effectively.

🌸 Why Do I Need to Have My Pelvic Muscles Examined?

This is one of the most important — and most misunderstood — parts of pelvic health care.

If your symptoms involve pelvic pain, weakness, leaking, or feelings of pressure, assessing how your pelvic muscles are working provides key insights into the cause of your symptoms. Just as a physical therapist would assess your knee after an injury, examining the pelvic muscles helps us understand how they’re contributing to your discomfort.

During this evaluation, your therapist may assess:

The tone and flexibility of the pelvic floor muscles
How well you can contract and relax the muscles
Any areas of tenderness, tightness, or weakness
How your breathing and posture affect pelvic muscle function

An internal exam may be recommended to fully understand your muscle function, but it’s always your choice. You can decline or defer any part of your assessment — your comfort and consent are the foundation of your care.

Many patients find the evaluation surprisingly gentle and empowering. It often provides clarity about what’s been causing their symptoms and a clear direction for how to begin healing.

A trained physical therapist can feel the integrity of the muscles, how well they function, and address tenderness or pain with manual assessment and treatment techniques.

🌼 Why Choose Fundamental Physical Therapy?

When you choose Fundamental Physical Therapy, you’re choosing a truly individualized experience that prioritizes you — your comfort, your goals, and your long-term well-being.

As a small, independent clinic, I intentionally keep my practice personal. You’ll work one-on-one with me at every visit — no front desk shuffle, no waiting in crowded lobbies, and no repeating your story to multiple providers.

Here’s what you can expect:

Dedicated one-on-one care focused entirely on your needs
Flexible scheduling to fit your busy life
Open communication — you can reach me directly by text, email, or phone between visits
Ongoing support — even after your treatment plan ends, you’re welcome to reach out with questions or return for “tune-up” sessions when needed

My goal is to build lasting relationships with my patients — not just to help you through this season, but to be a trusted resource for your pelvic health through all stages of life.

I truly love what I do and am passionate about helping women find comfort, confidence, and freedom in their bodies again.

🌷 Taking the First Step Toward Relief

Pelvic pain is real — but so is recovery. With the right support and guidance, your body has the ability to heal. Pelvic physical therapy offers a compassionate, evidence-based path toward relief that’s tailored to you.

Whether you’ve been living with discomfort for years or you’re just starting to notice symptoms, there’s no better time to begin your healing journey.