Pelvic Health

About Pelvic Health

“The mind’s first step to self-awareness must be through the body” – George A. Sheehan

welcome to the

Poised Pelvic Society

Your resource for pelvic health.

Keep scrolling for the basics of Pelvic Health.

Before We Start, it’s important to know…

The Pelvic Floor is a lesser known group of muscles that takes context to understand its importance.

Keep Reading for In-Depth Explanations

Or…Book a time on Dr. Britta’s calendar to hear it from a licensed, board certified PT, click below!

Learn from a Pelvic Floor PT

About the Pelvis

No bones about it

Where to Start??

Well… theeeeeee thigh bone’s connected to the hip bone, the hip bone’s connected to the back bone, the back b–.

Sorry. There I go again singing the skeleton dance….

Close-up of a medical model of a human pelvic skeleton, ideal for healthcare and anatomy studies.

The toddler mommy in me often defaults to anatomy sing-alongs. 😝

But why are we talking about the pelvis? You’re here to learn about the pelvic floor, right?

Right! The pelvis is the fulcrum of the body. Knowing all its functions gives us insight into why pelvic health is crucial to our physical and mental health.

Investing time in understanding your basic pelvic anatomy, especially in areas where you are suffering (or just not feeling 100% you) will give you the best chance at healing.

ESPECIALLY when it comes to the effectiveness and convenience of virtual physical therapy.

So let’s dive in, shall we?

Functions of the Pelvis

the long and short of it.

Locomotion

A fancy way of saying movement. To get your body from point A to point B.

Childbirth

Your newborn must navigate the birth canal, located in the the pelvic girdle, before their miraculous entry.

Protection

Provides a safe space for your abdominal and pelvic organs in their respective internal cavities

Support and Balance

Your torso and head make up a large portion of your total weight. Think of your pelvis as the pillar of support for your upper body.

Weight Transfer

Weight from above is transferred through the pelvis to the lower extremities, allowing your body to bear weight and move.

Junction

The pelvis is a surface area for attachment – for the muscles that facilitate hip, trunk, and leg function

That all sounds important, right?

When the pelvis, hips, or spine are injured…

…or otherwise just not playing nice together, it can lead to pelvic floor dysfunction.

Your pelvic floor muscles can be a source of a number of physical issues.

So that brings us to the functions of the Pelvic Floor,

but in case you’re pressed for time, here’s a list of common pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms.

A massage therapist provides care to a lying patient in a tranquil indoor setting.

Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

  • Urgency and Incontinence
  • Constipation
  • Bowel Leakage
  • IBS gastrointestinal issues
  • Incomplete Voiding
  • Leaking with coughing, sneezing, laughter, or exercise
  • Low Back Pain
  • Hamstring Pain
  • Groin Pain
  • Hip Pain
  • Abdominal Separation (diastasis recti)
  • TMJ Disorder
  • Chronic Pain
  • Excessive Menstrual Pain
  • Pain with Penetration
  • Headaches
  • Woman sitting with a headache, wearing a cozy sweater in an indoor setting.
  • A woman relaxes on bed with legs up, surrounded by plants in a cozy room.
  • Woman sitting on bed holding her stomach, showing signs of discomfort or pain indoors.

Notice how similar these symptoms are to common ailments?

Has your provider ever recommended pelvic floor physical therapy? If you’re searching for answers, it may be your pelvic floor.

Book a call to see if pelvic floor PT is a fit for you
Now lets talk about those “nether-region” muscles :

The Pelvic Floor…

Hands examining a digital anatomy illustration on a tablet alongside anatomical models on a table.

…is a group of muscles and attaching ligaments.

they act as a support system for the bladder, bowel, and uterus.

In tandem with deep abdominal and back muscles, and the diaphragm, the pelvic floor helps stabilize and support the spine.

It also helps control pressure in the abdomen during lifting or straining, i.e., exercise

As previously listed, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction can refer to several different symptoms or conditions.

They can be caused by excessively relaxed, tightened, or weakened muscles.

  • Urgency and Incontinence
  • Constipation
  • IBS GI Issues
  • Bowel Leakage
  • Incomplete Voiding
  • Pain with Penetration
  • Low Back Pain
  • Hamstring Pain and Tightness
  • Chronic pain
  • Headaches
  • TMJ Disorder
  • Hip Pain
  • Groin Pain
  • Pain with Sitting
  • Abdominal Separation
  • Leaking with coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise
  • Endometriosis
  • Excessive Menstrual Pain

The list of misdiagnosed symptoms goes on…

Experiecing Symptoms? GET HELP!

Keep reading to learn more anatomical nuggets or click below for plans of care or consultations.

Plans of Care
Free Constulatation

A crash course in

Pelvic Floor Function

Support

The pelvic floor serves as a support system for the bladder and pelvis. It aids the pelvis in providing balance and support to the upper and lower body. It supports internal organs and helps to preventprolapse.

Continence

Pelvic floor muscles assist in the functionality of the urethral, anal, and vaginal sphinctres, allowing for natural tightening and relaxation.

Sexual Health

Helps to facilitate normal sexual functions and activity.

Posture and Breath

Works together with the abdominals and diaphragm to promote healthy posture and breathing.

The Pelvic Floor is

…one of the more complex disciplines of physical therapy.

It presents many treatment challenges to orthopedic and neurological therapists unskilled in assessing related symptoms.

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction often goes undetected in normal treatment settings.

hear why From a specialized Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist

Healthy Pelvic Floor Muscles

relax and contract automatically, opening and closing the urethral and anal sphincters.

This is how the bladder and bowels are emptied or retained.

Problems arise when these muscles are too tight or weak to function properly.

The aim for Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy is to ensure a delicate balance in your pelvic floor region…

…strengthening the appropriate muscles encouraging flexibility.
Learn More About Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy