5 Common Signs of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction & How PT can Help
Pelvic floor physical therapy is a growing sub-field within the field of physical therapy. It has grown dramatically especially as more individuals are choosing not to accept things like peeing their pants, constipation, having painful periods, and struggling with postpartum recovery - all common signs of pelvic floor dysfunction.
They deserve better care and so do you!
Hi, I’m Dr. Jackie! I am a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist in New Orleans, specializing in women’s health, birth prep, postpartum recovery, and holistic fertility.
I’ve worked with hundreds of women who all share common signs of pelvic floor dysfunction, often without even realizing that pelvic floor therapy can help get to the root of issues and drastically help reduce their symptoms.
Keep reading to learn about ALL the common pelvic floor problems and ways pelvic floor physical therapy can help YOU overcome some uncomfortable symptoms that so many people struggle with.
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What is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
Also known as pelvic health physical therapy, pelvic physical therapy, or Pelvic PT, this is a branch of physical therapy that addresses problems with what I like to call the 4 P’s:
Pooping - struggling with chronic constipation
Peeing - incontinence issues such as leaking or peeing one’s pants when jumping
Periods - abnormal, painful, or heavy periods
Painful sex
And the two bonus P’s of pelvic floor therapy (which often involve some combination of the above issues):
Who Can Benefit From Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
Pelvic floor physical therapy is becoming more well-known among women who are pregnant and postpartum, because issues like peeing when you sneeze, prolapse, pain with intercourse, and confusion over safe exercise during pregnancy and postpartum are common.
I’m personally really excited to see many women in this stage of life starting to pursue support for common problems that you definitely do not JUST have to live with.
But, please hear me when I say: pregnant and postpartum women aren’t the only ones who can benefit pelvic floor physical therapy.
Read on for 5 additional signs of pelvic floor dysfunction that you may be surprised to find can be helped with someone with special training in treating the pelvic floor.
Common Signs of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Pain with inserting a tampon
Painful tampon insertion is no fun .
Although we are thankful that pad technology has improved and we even have amazing options such as period underwear these days, if you want to be able to wear a tampon in certain situations (like swimming at the lake this summer with your friends!), you definitely don’t have to live with the stress of having pain with tampon insertion.
If you have pain inserting a tampon, pelvic floor physical therapy can help! With our whole-body and trauma-informed care, we can help you overcome pain with putting in a tampon - not to mention any kind of pain with your periods!
2. Painful sex and intimacy
If sexual intercourse burns, aches, or feels like a sharp stabbing pain during penetration, you definitely don’t have to live with that! You may be surprised to find that a joyful sex life is totally possible for you - many of my clients have overcome painful sex to get pregnant within 6 months of working with me!
Pelvic floor physical therapy and integrative women’s health coaching can help if you have pain with sex, and can have you experiencing joy in your relationship and your life.
3. Painful bowel movements and constipation
You may be surprised to learn that pelvic PT can help with all kinds of pooping problems! If you aren’t pooping every day, OR when you do poop, it’s all rocks and pebbles and you are straining to the point of pain, you are constipated.
Constipation is not only uncomfortable, but can lead to other problems like bloating, hormone imbalance, and painful periods. But you don’t have to live with that!
I want you to know that if you are having poop problems, pelvic floor physical therapy can help.
By the way, if you specifically have pain with constipation around the holidays, pelvic floor physical therapy can also help with that!
4. Nagging low back pain and hip pain
Do you notice nagging low back and hip pain while running, picking up your child, or during Crossfit? Maybe you are the straight-A student at PT and did ALL of your home exercises and even took a break from running. But if you aren’t better yet, there is most likely a missing link.
Pelvic floor physical therapy can help if you have low back and hip pain that hasn’t resolved.
The pelvic floor is the biggest missing piece I see in my practice to lasting pain relief.
In my in-person practice in New Orleans, as well as with my virtual clients, I take a whole body and lifestyle approach to pain relief - you don’t have to quit doing the things you love! Pelvic PT may be the missing link to why you haven’t been able to completely heal and get back to running, working out, or whatever you like to do for recreation.
5. Leaking urine when you sneeze or jump
Pelvic floor physical therapy is the non-invasive FIRST-line treatment for urinary issues that are SO common (especially after having a baby). If you leak when you sneeze or jump, it’s likely that there is some coordination issue between the abdominal muscles, pelvic floor muscles, and diaphragm that can be resolved with a whole-body approach to changing your movement system and being able to go to Crossfit without worrying about if double-unders are on the WOD.
If you pee more than once every 2-4 hours or leak when you can’t quite make it to the bathroom in time, (and you’re THAT person on the road trip who asks to stop every hour- and even that’s a stretch for you), pelvic floor physical therapy can ALSO help with that!
Final Thoughts
Many symptoms such as constipation, incontinence, prolapse, or even back pain are common, but don’t have to be your normal. Pelvic floor physical therapy can help get to the root of these common issues and get you back to doing what you love!
DM me on Instagram and let me know what else you’d like to learn about pelvic floor health!
Ready for More Support?
Hi! I’m Dr. Jackie Roelofs
A doctor of physical therapy specializing in the pelvic floor in pregnancy, postpartum and beyond. My pregnancy and birth prep programs are available in person in New Orleans, and worldwide through virtual coaching.
If you are craving support during one of the biggest transformations of your life, fill out a contact form and I’ll reach out to you within 2 business days.
