Pelvic Health Therapy

When pelvic floor muscles aren’t working properly, it can affect comfort, control and quality of life. Pelvic health therapy can help ease your symptoms and restore strength.

What Is Pelvic Health Therapy? 

Pelvic health therapy is a specialized form of rehabilitation that focuses on the pelvic floor muscles—the group of muscles that support the bladder, bowel and reproductive organs. When these muscles are too weak, too tight or not coordinated properly, they can cause symptoms such as pain, urinary or bowel leakage, constipation and difficulty with core stability.

This therapy is appropriate for people of all genders and ages who are experiencing pelvic floor problems. Common reasons for referral include fecal or urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, prolapse, postpartum recovery and pelvic floor dysfunction related to surgery or chronic conditions. Postpartum pelvic floor therapy, in particular, helps new parents safely heal and rebuild strength after pregnancy and childbirth, reducing symptoms like leakage or weakness and supporting long-term pelvic health.

Pelvic floor therapists use a variety of evidence-based approaches, including:

• Pelvic floor muscle training: Exercises to strengthen weak muscles and retrain coordination
• Biofeedback therapy: Technology that provides visual or sensory feedback to help patients learn correct contractions and relaxation
• Manual therapy: Gentle, hands-on techniques to release tight tissues, reduce pain and improve mobility
• Electrical stimulation: Low-level stimulation to activate weak muscles or calm overactive ones
• Behavioral and lifestyle strategies: Education on bladder and bowel habits, breathing techniques, posture and safe activity modifications

In some cases, additional specialty care may be needed. Patients with complex conditions such as pelvic organ prolapse or severe incontinence may be referred to a urogynecologist, who can provide advanced evaluation and treatment.

What to Expect During Pelvic Health Therapy

Patients meet with a Pelvic floor therapist for a detailed evaluation. This visit may include a review of your medical history, a discussion of symptoms and an assessment of your posture, breathing and core muscle coordination. For those who are pregnant or postpartum, the evaluation may also include a review of recovery progress and specific concerns such as leakage, pain or pelvic pressure.

During treatment, sessions are typically one-on-one in a private, supportive setting. Depending on your treatment plan, therapy may include guided pelvic floor exercises, manual therapy to release tension and tools such as biofeedback or electrical stimulation to enhance muscle training. Education is woven into each session, with therapists providing guidance on bladder and bowel habits, safe lifting techniques and strategies to reduce strain in everyday activities.

  As therapy progresses, patients often continue with a personalized home program to maintain progress. This may include daily exercises, posture training and lifestyle adjustments to protect your pelvic health. Follow-up visits are scheduled to monitor progress and adjust the plan as needed. With consistent participation, pelvic health therapy can ease symptoms, restore strength and improve your overall quality of life.