Women’s Health Physical Therapy

1 in 3 women will experience at least one pelvic floor disorder in their lifetime — seeing a women’s health female PT can help.

Do you have difficulty controlling your bladder when you sneeze, or run?
Do you feel pain or weakness in your pelvic floor after birth?
Do you feel confused and worried about whether the changes in your body during pregnancy, postpartum, or menopause are normal?

What is women’s health PT?

Women’s health PT is a specialized form of therapy that treats dysfunctions specific to women. This may include:

  • Personalized exercises and stretches to strengthen the pelvic floor, abdominals, and surrounding muscles to improve strength, power, and endurance.

  • Myofascial release by massage, trigger point release, cupping, etc.

  • Education on posture, breathing, and body mechanics

  • Discussion of lifestyle habits that can improve symptoms

This form of therapy is done by physical therapists who undergo specialized training and education in this field.

 

Conditions Treated

  • Pelvic organ prolapse

  • Diastasis Recti (abdominal separation)

  • C-section scar pain

  • Lower back and SI joint pain

  • Pubic Symphysis pain

  • Tailbone and sit bone pain

  • Perineal pain (due to tears, episiotomy, or due to conditions like vulvodynia or vestibulodynia)

  • Incontinence (impaired bladder or bowel control - especially with coughing/sneezing)

  • Pain with intercourse

  • Endometriosis

  • Interstitial Cystitis / Painful Bladder Syndrome

  • Rectal pain

  • Post hysterectomy / GI + gynecological cancer

 

How effective is pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT)?

Women with stress urinary incontinence (leakage with coughing, etc) who received PFPT were 8x more likely to report being cured of their symptoms than placebo.

Women who undergo PFPT for prolapse have a significant improvement in their symptoms and exam compared to placebo.

59-80% of women report improvement in chronic pelvic pain symptoms (ex. pain with intercourse) after a course of PFPT.

 FAQs

 

  • This really depends on each person, on average people usually need 4-8 sessions to see improvement

    With that said, if you’re short on time we can accomplish a LOT in just 1 or 2 sessions! This can get your questions answered so you can safely continue with another fitness professional.

  • Virtual PT works really well for people who are comfortable/familiar with learning new exercises. I often have my patients buy massage tools to perform muscle release themselves, so you don’t miss out on any goodness of being seen in person. This is also a great opportunity for people to have questions answered or continue PT from other parts of the country/city.

    However, if you are someone that benefits from hands on to learn exercises or is in a lot of pain, I would recommend an in-person session.

  • Unfortunately not, however it can be reimbursed by most international insurances.