Is Pelvic Pain Making Everyday Activities Harder?
Find a Personalized Path Forward With Pelvic Pain Physical Therapy
Pelvic pain can make sitting, exercising, using the bathroom, or even being intimate much more difficult. It may come and go, only appear during specific activities, or linger without an obvious explanation. Regardless of the specifics, Seva Orthopedic Physical Therapy can help if you’re dealing with pelvic pain in Princeton, NJ. With one-on-one care in a private treatment room, you can discuss your concerns comfortably and receive treatment tailored to your needs.
Why Does Pelvic Pain Happen?
Pelvic pain refers to discomfort felt in the lower abdomen, pelvis, pelvic floor, groin, or surrounding region. Some people experience a dull ache or pressure, while others notice sharp, burning, or activity-related symptoms.
There is not always one single cause. The pelvic floor works together with the hips, abdominal muscles, diaphragm, spine, and surrounding tissues. Changes in one or more of these areas may contribute to symptoms. Pelvic pain can also have medical causes, so appropriate evaluation is important, particularly when symptoms are new, severe, or unexplained.
Factors that may contribute to pelvic pain include:
- Pelvic floor muscle tension: Muscles that remain tense or have difficulty relaxing may contribute to pain, pressure, or discomfort.
- Muscle coordination changes: The pelvic floor may not coordinate effectively with breathing, movement, or abdominal muscle activity.
- Hip or low back factors: Mobility, strength, or movement changes around the hips and spine can influence how the pelvis is loaded during activity.
- Pregnancy and postpartum changes: Shifts in posture, strength, mobility, and pelvic floor function may contribute to symptoms during or after pregnancy.
- Previous surgery or injury: Healing and changes in movement following certain procedures or injuries may affect surrounding muscles and tissues.
- Bowel or bladder dysfunction: Straining, urgency, constipation, and other changes may occur alongside pelvic floor symptoms.
Your Treatment Should Match Your Symptoms
At Seva Orthopedic Physical Therapy, your physical therapist looks beyond the location of your pain to understand how your body moves and functions. Your evaluation may include your symptoms, activity history, mobility, strength, posture, breathing patterns, and movement.
Based on those findings, external treatment techniques may include:
- Manual therapy: Hands-on treatment to the hips, abdomen, low back, and surrounding areas may help address muscle tension and mobility restrictions.
- Pelvic floor relaxation and coordination: Guided exercises can help you learn how to relax, engage, and coordinate the pelvic floor appropriately.
- Breathing retraining: Diaphragmatic breathing strategies can improve coordination between the diaphragm, abdominal muscles, and pelvic floor.
- Therapeutic exercise: Individualized strengthening and mobility exercises can address physical factors contributing to symptoms.
- Movement retraining: Your therapist may modify painful movements and then gradually help you build tolerance to sitting, lifting, exercising, or other activities.
- Education and self-management: You can learn practical strategies for managing symptoms, improving movement habits, and continuing progress outside the clinic.
Seva Orthopedic Physical Therapy offers in-network pelvic floor physical therapy and a 48-hour turnaround on appointments to ensure you get the care you need as quickly as possible.
Pelvic Pain FAQ
Can pelvic floor problems cause hip, groin, or lower back pain?
Pelvic floor dysfunction can sometimes occur along with pain in the hips, groin, abdomen, tailbone, or lower back. These regions share muscles, nerves, joints, and movement patterns, so a pelvic health PT often evaluates more than just the pelvic floor. Treatment is based on which structures appear to be contributing to your particular symptoms.
Do I need an internal examination for pelvic pain treatment?
Not necessarily. An internal examination may help determine whether pelvic floor muscles are tight, tender, weak, or poorly coordinated, but it is only one part of a pelvic health evaluation. It should only be performed when clinically appropriate and with your consent.
When should pelvic pain be evaluated by a doctor before starting physical therapy?
New, unexplained, severe, or rapidly worsening pelvic pain should be medically evaluated. Medical assessment is also important when pelvic pain is accompanied by fever, unusual bleeding, urinary infection symptoms, significant unexplained changes in bowel or bladder function, or other concerning symptoms. Pelvic pain can have many causes, so PT is often one part of a broader healthcare approach.
Clinically reviewed by Brianna Chachoute, PT, DPT
Pelvic Health Physical Therapist
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