Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy: What It Is and Who Needs It
Pelvic floor therapy is one of the most under-utilized treatments in healthcare. Here's an honest, judgment-free look at what it involves — and the wide range of issues it can resolve.
Despite the fact that nearly one in three women will experience pelvic floor dysfunction at some point — and many men too — pelvic floor physical therapy remains widely under-utilized in the United States. Many patients have never heard of it. Others have heard of it but assume it's only for women after childbirth, or that it involves something embarrassing.
Here's an honest, judgment-free explanation of what pelvic floor PT actually is, who it can help, and what to expect.
What the pelvic floor does
Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles that sit at the base of your pelvis like a hammock. They have three main jobs:
- Support — they hold up your bladder, bowel, and (in women) uterus
- Control — they regulate the opening and closing of your bladder and bowel
- Stability — they work with your core to stabilize your spine and pelvis
When these muscles become too tight, too weak, or just uncoordinated, problems develop — sometimes obvious, sometimes subtle.
Signs you might benefit from pelvic floor therapy
- Leakage when you cough, sneeze, laugh, jump, or exercise
- Strong, sudden urges to urinate that are hard to control
- Going to the bathroom more often than seems normal
- Pain during intercourse
- Persistent pelvic pain
- Constipation or incomplete emptying
- Feeling of heaviness or pressure in the pelvis
- Pain or pressure that lingered after childbirth
- Difficulty restoring core strength postpartum
- Symptoms after prostate surgery (in men)
Many people accept these issues as normal — "just part of getting older," or "just what happens after having kids." But they're not normal, and they're not something you have to live with. Pelvic floor PT can resolve most of these issues, often completely.
What a pelvic floor PT visit actually looks like
The first visit, like any PT evaluation, starts with a conversation about your symptoms, your history, and your goals. Your therapist will explain how the pelvic floor works and what they're going to assess.
Assessment may include observation of your posture, movement, and breathing; assessment of your hips, low back, and core; and — only with your full consent — an internal pelvic floor examination. The internal exam is the most accurate way to assess pelvic floor muscle function, but it's always optional. Many patients are successfully evaluated and treated externally, especially in the early stages.
Treatment can include manual therapy, specific exercises (often very different from what people imagine — it's not just Kegels), breathing work, bladder/bowel re-training, and education. Sessions take place in a fully private treatment room.
Will insurance cover this?
Yes, in most cases. Pelvic floor PT is billed exactly like other physical therapy and is covered by Medicare, Medicaid, and most commercial insurance plans. We verify your specific benefits before your first appointment.
The bottom line
If any of the symptoms above sound familiar, please don't dismiss them. Pelvic floor PT is safe, effective, evidence-based, and conducted with dignity and discretion. Most patients see meaningful improvement within 6–12 sessions — and many wonder why they waited so long to address it.
Call us at (719) 345-4097 if you have questions, or learn more about our women's pelvic floor therapy service.
Schedule your evaluation.
Personalized one-on-one physical and occupational therapy in Cañon City. No referral needed in Colorado.