Pelvic Floor Therapy
Restore strength. Improve function. Regain confidence.
Living with bladder leakage, pelvic pain, or pressure can feel embarrassing — and isolating. A lot of people quietly manage these symptoms for years, assuming nothing can be done or feeling uncomfortable asking for help. We want you to know: this is more common than you think, and it is treatable.
Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles that support your bladder, bowel, and pelvic organs. When they're not working the way they should, it can affect everything from how you move to how you feel on a daily basis.
At Acadiana Pain & Performance Rehab, we provide pelvic floor therapy designed specifically for you — to help you restore function, reduce symptoms, and return to living confidently. Whether you're recovering after childbirth, experiencing pelvic pain, dealing with urinary leakage, or struggling with core weakness, our goal is to help you move and feel your best.
What Is Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues that form the base of your pelvis. These muscles work together to:
- Support the bladder, bowel, and reproductive organs
- Help control bladder and bowel function
- Contribute to core stability and spinal support
- Assist with breathing and pressure management
- Support movement during exercise and daily activities
When these muscles become too weak, too tight, poorly coordinated, or fail to work efficiently with the rest of the body, pelvic floor dysfunction can develop.
Pelvic floor dysfunction affects people of all ages and genders. While it is common during pregnancy and after childbirth, it can also occur in athletes, after surgery, with aging, or without an obvious cause.
Common Symptoms
Pelvic floor dysfunction can present in many different ways, including:
- Pelvic pain or pressure
- A feeling of heaviness in the pelvis
- Urinary leakage or incontinence
- Urinary urgency or frequency
- Difficulty emptying the bladder or bowel
- Constipation
- Pain during or after intercourse
- Core weakness or instability
- Low back, hip, or pelvic pain
- Pain with prolonged sitting or standing
- Pregnancy-related pelvic discomfort
- Postpartum recovery challenges
Because many of these symptoms overlap with other conditions, a thorough evaluation is essential to determine the most appropriate treatment.
How Pelvic Floor Therapy Can Help
At Acadiana Pain & Performance Rehab, we view the pelvic floor as part of the body's entire movement system, not as an isolated group of muscles.
Following a comprehensive evaluation, your treatment plan may include:
- Specialized pelvic floor assessment
- Hands-on manual therapy when appropriate
- Pelvic floor muscle coordination training
- Core strengthening and stabilization exercises
- Breathing and pressure management techniques
- Postural and movement retraining
- Hip and trunk strengthening
- Education on bladder and bowel habits
- Progressive return-to-exercise guidance
- Personalized home exercise program
Every treatment plan is tailored to your symptoms, comfort level, and personal goals.
Who Can Benefit?
Pelvic floor therapy may benefit individuals experiencing:
- Pregnancy-related pelvic pain
- Postpartum recovery
- Urinary or bowel incontinence
- Pelvic organ prolapse symptoms
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Pain during intimacy
- Recovery following pelvic surgery
- Athletic performance concerns related to core function
- Persistent low back, hip, or sacroiliac pain associated with pelvic floor dysfunction
Whether your goal is returning to exercise, caring for your family, improving athletic performance, or simply living more comfortably, we're here to help.
Research & Evidence
Research consistently supports pelvic floor physical therapy as one of the most effective first-line treatments for many pelvic health conditions.
- The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends pelvic floor muscle training as an effective conservative treatment for urinary incontinence and postpartum recovery.
- Clinical guidelines from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy support pelvic floor rehabilitation for urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, pelvic organ prolapse, and pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain.
- Systematic reviews have shown that supervised pelvic floor muscle training significantly improves urinary incontinence and quality of life for many women.
- Research also demonstrates that the pelvic floor works together with the diaphragm, abdominal muscles, and deep spinal stabilizers as part of the body's core stability system, reinforcing the importance of treating the whole movement system rather than isolated muscles alone.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is pelvic floor therapy?
Pelvic floor therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy that evaluates and treats dysfunction involving the muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues of the pelvis. Treatment may include education, exercises, manual therapy, breathing strategies, and movement retraining.
Is pelvic floor therapy only for women after childbirth?
No. Although pelvic floor therapy is commonly used during pregnancy and postpartum recovery, it also helps individuals experiencing pelvic pain, urinary leakage, bowel dysfunction, core weakness, athletic injuries, post-surgical recovery, and many other pelvic health conditions. Men can also benefit from pelvic floor therapy.
What does a pelvic floor therapy session involve?
Your first visit includes a detailed discussion of your symptoms, medical history, and goals, followed by a comprehensive movement assessment. Depending on your condition and comfort level, your therapist may recommend additional pelvic floor assessment techniques and will explain every step before proceeding.
Can pelvic floor therapy help with incontinence?
Yes. Pelvic floor muscle training is considered one of the most effective first-line treatments for many forms of urinary incontinence and has been shown to improve bladder control, confidence, and quality of life.
References
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Urinary Incontinence in Women.
- American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Academy of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy.
- Dumoulin C, Cacciari LP, Hay-Smith EJC. Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Versus No Treatment for Urinary Incontinence in Women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.
Restore Confidence in Your Body
Pelvic floor symptoms are more common than most people realize — and they are not something you simply have to accept. With the right evaluation and a personalized treatment plan, most people see meaningful improvements in pain, bladder control, and daily comfort.
Schedule an evaluation with Acadiana Pain & Performance Rehab and learn how pelvic floor therapy can help you move with greater comfort and confidence.
Let's Talk About What's Been Bothering You