A Missing Piece in Your Pain or Recovery?
Did you know pelvic floor dysfunction could be affecting your rehab?
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD) isn’t just something that affects people during pregnancy or those dealing with incontinence. In many cases, it plays a hidden role in common orthopedic conditions—especially when pain doesn’t fully resolve with traditional treatment.
At Free Body Physical Therapy, we often see pelvic floor involvement in people struggling with:
- Low back pain
- Hip or groin pain
- SI joint dysfunction
- Core instability that won’t improve
If you’ve tried PT before and still don’t feel “right,” your pelvic floor may be part of the story.
What Is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that work with your core, hips, diaphragm, and spine to support movement, stability, and pressure control. When these muscles aren’t functioning well, symptoms can show up anywhere—not just in the pelvis.
Pelvic floor physical therapy focuses on identifying and treating these dysfunctions to improve how your entire body moves and feels.
How Physical Therapy at Free Body Can Help
At Free Body, we don’t treat body parts in isolation—we treat people.
Our physical therapists:
- Spend more one-on-one time with patients than most healthcare providers
- Build strong relationships that allow us to explore root causes, not just symptoms
- Have a professional responsibility to screen for pelvic health issues, even during orthopedic care
You don’t need to see a pelvic floor specialist right away. By asking the right questions and performing thoughtful movement and strength assessments, we can determine whether pelvic floor involvement may be impacting your recovery—and guide your care appropriately.
Signs Your Pelvic Floor Might Be Involved
Common Symptoms to Mention
You don’t need to have all of these to benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy:
- Frequent urination or urinary urgency
- Incontinence or constipation
- Pelvic pain (during sex, menstruation, or prolonged sitting)
- Symptoms that worsen with lifting, jumping, or squatting
- Postpartum or post-surgical complications
Physical Clues We Often See
Even when pelvic symptoms aren’t obvious, we may notice:
- Persistent low back or hip pain with no clear cause
- Core weakness or instability
- Difficulty activating the deep core
- Trigger points in the hips, glutes, or low back
- Limited hip mobility
- Pain during exercises like squats or lunges
Pelvic Floor-Informed Orthopedic Physical Therapy
Many pelvic floor-related issues can be addressed without internal pelvic exams. Our orthopedic PT approach focuses on external assessment and treatment using proven strategies.
1. Abdominal Wall & Fascia Assessment
Dysfunction in the abdominal wall can directly contribute to back, hip, and pelvic pain.
We may:
- Use hands-on techniques to release abdominal trigger points and fascia
- Address coordination and strength deficits
- Prescribe targeted exercises like sit backs to retrain the abdominal wall
2. Breathing & Rib Cage Mechanics
Breathing is essential for both core and pelvic floor function.
We assess:
- Rib cage position and breathing patterns
- Pressure management during movement
Treatment may include:
- Rib cage expansion exercises
- Manual techniques such as splinted breathing
- Resistance-based breathing drills to restore balance and support posture
3. Posture & Daily Habits
Your pelvic floor doesn’t exist only in the gym.
We look at:
- How long you spend sitting, standing, or lying in certain positions
- Sleep posture and daily movement habits
- How these factors may be contributing to symptoms or delayed healing
Ready to Talk About It?
We believe the most important part of physical therapy is having conversations that matter—even when they’re uncomfortable or overlooked elsewhere.
If you suspect your pelvic floor might be affecting your recovery, we’re here to help you connect the dots.
Pelvic health is orthopedic health.
👉 Schedule an evaluation at Free Body Physical Therapy in Chicago Let’s find what’s really holding you back.