Pelvic floor therapy is a specialized form of physical or occupational therapy designed to address the muscles, nerves, and connective tissues that support your bladder, bowel, sexual function, and core stability.
This guest blog is from Courtney Trocinski, Pelvic Floor Occupational Therapist, Birth Doula, Childbirth Educator, and founder of OWN Your Pelvic Health in Denver, Colorado.
Check out our podcast interview with Courtney
At OWN Your Pelvic Health, we work with people across the lifespan – from adolescence to fertility, pregnancy and postpartum, managing pelvic pain, navigating menopause, and optimizing athletic performance like running or lifting.
What is Pelvic Floor Therapy?
Pelvic floor therapy focuses on assessing and improving the function of the pelvic floor muscles, just like you would train and rehabilitate any other muscle group in your body. These muscles work closely with your core, hips, and back to provide stability, support your organs, and allow you to move, lift, and live without pain or limitations. We use a whole-body approach that may include gentle manual therapy, guided exercise, breathwork, and strategies for improving posture, coordination, and daily movement patterns. Our goal isn’t just to treat symptoms; it’s to address the root cause and help you feel strong, capable, and confident in everything from workouts to everyday activities.
What Does Pelvic Floor Therapy Treat?
The symptoms and conditions we treat are extensive.
- Pelvic pain: pain with intimacy, tampon use, pelvic exams, sitting, or exercise
- Dysregulated menstrual cycles
- Bladder and bowel concerns: leaking with coughing, sneezing, running, lifting; urgency, constipation, or incomplete emptying.
- Fertility concerns
- Pregnancy comfort & birth preparation: easing common aches & pains, preventing worsening symptoms like leaking or diastasis, and planning for labor and pushing
- Postpartum recovery: healing after vaginal or cesarean birth, addressing pain, scar tissue, incontinence, prolapse and diastasis recti.
- Pelvic organ prolapse: managing heaviness or bulging sensations.
- Core and back pain
- Athletic performance and injury prevention: improving strength, stability, and power for lifting, running, and other high-impact sports.
- Perimenopause and menopause: addressing changes in tissue health, bladder function, and pelvic comfort.
- General pelvic health: for anyone who wants to optimize function, prevent issues, and feel more in control of their body.
When Should You Seek Out a Pelvic Floor Therapist?
You don’t need to wait until symptoms are severe, or until you’ve tried “everything else”, to see a pelvic floor therapist. In fact, earlier intervention often means quicker recovery and better long-term results. You should consider booking an appointment if you:
- Recently had a baby (vaginal or cesarean) and want to heal fully before returning to exercise, work, or intimacy.
- Experience leaking when you cough, sneeze, laugh, run, jump, or lift.
- Notice heaviness, pressure, or bulging in your pelvic area.
- Have pain with sex, tampon use, or pelvic exams.
- Struggle with constipation, incomplete emptying, or bowel leakage.
- Live with chronic pelvic, hip, or low back pain.
- Want to improve your athletic performance by building a stronger, more coordinated core and pelvic floor.
- Are entering perimenopause or menopause and notice changes in bladder control, tissue comfort, or pelvic health.
- Simply want to be proactive about pelvic health and prevent issues before they start
The Integrated Wellness Process at OWN Your Pelvic Health
At OWN Your Pelvic Health, we believe your care should be personalized, holistic, and collaborative. Our process is designed to make it easy for you to take the first step and feel supported every step after that.
- Step 1: Complimentary Consultation
- We start with a no-pressure phone call or in-person chat to learn about your goals, symptoms, and history. This is your chance to ask questions and find out if pelvic floor therapy, or another one of our services, is the right fit for you.
- Step 2: Initial Evaluation
- During your first appointment, your therapist will take a detailed history, perform a thorough assessment (both pelvic floor and whole-body movement), and discuss your personalised plan. We’ll review your goals and set milestones to track your progress.
- Step 3: Your Treatment Plan
- Your plan may include a combination of manual therapy, exercise and education tailored to your needs. It can also include one of the following programs or additional services.
- Mercier Therapy: soft tissue mobilization for fertility, pelvic pain, and scar tissue.
- Pessary Fitting: support for prolapse or incontinence.
- Return-to-Run & Athlete Programs: progressive strength and impact training for postpartum and beyond.
- Prenatal & Postpartum Support: safe exercise, body mechanics, and strategies for birth prep or recovery.
- Perimenopause & Menopause Care: symptom management, strength training, and pelvic health optimization.
- Step 4: Integrated Support from Our Team
- Your wellness journey doesn’t happen in isolation. Our unique model allows you to work with:
- Highly trained Pelvic Floor PTs & OTs: leading your care and ensuring progress toward your goals.
- In-house Personal Trainers: helping you transition from rehab to full fitness safely.
- Doulas: offering physical and emotional support during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.
- Collaborative Partners: lactation consultants, mental health professionals, and other specialists for a true whole-body approach.
- Your wellness journey doesn’t happen in isolation. Our unique model allows you to work with:
- Step 5: Ongoing Care & Progress Tracking
- We adjust your plan as you progress, celebrating wins along the way and ensuring you leave therapy not just symptom-free, but confident and independent in maintaining your results.
Pelvic Floor PT & OT at OWN Your Pelvic Health
Our pelvic floor physical and occupational therapists combine advanced training with a compassionate, client-centered approach. Whether you’re here for postpartum recovery, pelvic pain relief, athletic performance, or preventative care, we meet you where you are and guide you to where you want to be.
