Physical therapy? For the pelvis? by Dr. Hailey Jackson

Yup, that’s right. I know what you’re thinking— what the heck is pelvic physical therapy?!

 

So, what do I treat? Just like any other physical therapist, I treat the joints, muscles, nerves, fascia, and soft tissues— in and around the pelvis. There is a lot going on in the pelvis; you have musculoskeletal, neuromuscular, lymphatic, genitourinary, and gastrointestinal systems all housed in the pelvis. So, I treat symptoms related to musculoskeletal pain, pregnancy and postpartum related symptoms, bladder dysfunction, bowel dysfunction, and sexual dysfunction. 

 

A few examples of common things I treat include: low back pain, hip pain, tailbone pain, chronic pelvic pain, urinary leakage, urinary urgency, constipation, fecal incontinence, pain with or following intercourse, diastasis rectus abdominus, pelvic organ prolapse, and postpartum rehab for both vaginal and cesarean birth, as well as bed wetting and constipation in the pediatric population. 

 

Pelvic floor symptoms don’t discriminate against age or parity. I have seen and treated patients from 8 years old to 96 years old. 

 

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If you’re reading this and relate to some or all of these symptoms, please know you are not alone. 

• 1 out of 3 women experience bladder leakage
• 3 out of 4 women experience pain with intercourse in their lifetime
• Up to 80% of female athletes leak urine
• 20% of pediatrician visits are for incontinence