What Does a Pelvic Floor Specialist Do?

by Sarah Ellison, DPT

We are glad you asked (and you are definitely not alone if this is a question you’ve had)! Hopefully, this quick description will provide some insight and help you figure out if pelvic floor therapy is the missing piece to the puzzle you’ve been looking for in your care.

In short, pelvic health specialists are different healthcare providers that bring their area of expertise to helping the pelvic floor muscles work optimally for symptom relief! The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that form the underside of the torso. These muscles work to support the inner structures of the torso, provide stability, and help control the openings to the pelvis. These muscles can impact bowel, bladder, and sexual function and can even play a role in back and hip pain that does not seem to fully resolve.

Pelvic floor physical therapists are physical therapists trained in examining and treating issues with pelvic floor muscle strength, tightness, and coordination. Knowing that one part of the body does not move alone, we also take a whole-body approach for effective and lasting symptom change. We can use a combination of strategies, including hands-on myofascial techniques, postural assessment, and strengthening and stretching exercises that are all catered to each individual’s body and movement preferences for long-term symptom relief. 

Our nurse practitioner also brings her knowledge of medical treatment for pelvic floor conditions. Medical treatment can improve tissue inflammation or muscle spasms. This can be an incredibly powerful tool for temporary symptom management and allows pelvic floor therapy to be more effective for long-term symptom improvement.

Many other healthcare providers can be trained in better understanding the pelvic floor and all bring their own area of expertise for improving pelvic floor symptoms. We at Wellest have worked with many occupational therapists, physicians, and other clinicians in the Boston area to grow pelvic health awareness. In this way, we hope that individuals can find the trained clinicians they need for more complete symptom relief.

More questions? We’d love to chat.