Pelvic Floor Dysfunction? Enhance Your Postpartum Recovery With Physical Therapy

Medically reviewed by Ashlie Crewe

Pelvic floor dysfunction after pregnancy is common and treatable. If you’re experiencing lower back or pelvic pain, pelvic pressure, and heaviness, or difficulty relaxing your pelvic muscles, physical therapy could provide the relief you need.

Specialized pelvic floor exercises and advanced treatments can help improve function and reduce symptoms, offering hope for a more comfortable postpartum experience. Find a clinic near you and schedule a pelvic floor physical therapy evaluation today.

In this article:

• Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Pelvic Floor Health
• Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Tension
• Causes of Pelvic Floor Tension
• Postpartum Physical Therapy for Pelvic Floor Tension
• Schedule a Physical Therapy Appointment Today

Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Pelvic Floor Health

The pelvic floor is the group of muscles that stabilize and support the pelvic organs, including the bladder, bowel, and uterus. Among the many important jobs of the pelvic floor, this muscle plays an essential role in urination, defecation, and sexual function.

Pregnancy and childbirth significantly impact pelvic floor health. As the baby grows during pregnancy, pressure on the pelvic floor increases. The added pressure can overstretch or weaken pelvic floor muscles over time. This can lead to low back pain, urinary or fecal incontinence, and pelvic organ prolapse, where pelvic organs slip down from their normal position.

Childbirth, particularly vaginal delivery, impacts the pelvic floor muscles significantly and can intensify these symptoms resulting in pelvic floor problems that linger throughout the postpartum period, potentially for decades.

Signs of Pelvic Floor Tightness

While many people experience pelvic floor weakness after childbirth, others may experience overactive or tight pelvic floor muscles.

Possible signs of tension in pelvic floor muscles include:

• Chronic pelvic pain
• Hip and/or lower back pain
• Involuntary muscle spasms
• Pelvic pressure or heaviness
• Holding or clenching in the pelvic area
• Painful urination or bowel movements
• Urgent or frequent need to urinate
• Pain during intercourse

Addressing the root of postpartum pelvic floor tension is essential to receiving the proper treatment and finding much-needed relief. By being proactive and seeking evaluation and treatment, you can take control of your postpartum health. Mention your symptoms during your postpartum visits with your provider and schedule an evaluation with a physical therapist for a pelvic floor health assessment.

What Causes Pelvic Floor Dysfunction After Pregnancy?

Several factors can contribute to pelvic floor tightness during and after pregnancy:

• Compensation for other muscles. The pelvic floor muscles can become tight as the body compensates for weakness and instability in the pelvic region.
• Postural changes. The added weight of a pregnancy, combined with changes in posture, can impact the tension and flexibility of various muscles, including those in the pelvic floor.
• Hormonal changes. During pregnancy, the body releases relaxin and other hormones, which relax ligaments and muscles to accommodate the growing fetus. Therefore, the muscles have to work harder. Once hormone levels drop, the muscles may not return to normal tension levels.
• Trauma. Tears and trauma during delivery can cause scar tissue to form in the pelvic floor, resulting in involuntary tension of the muscles around the injured area, known as muscle guarding.
• Overuse. Individuals who experience urine leakage or pelvic organ prolapse, or other symptoms of pelvic muscle weakness may tense their pelvic muscles in response to these symptoms in an effort to decrease them. It can then be challenging to relax those muscles.
• Stress. Anxiety and stress from sleep deprivation and caring for a newborn can lead to noticeable muscle tension, including in the muscles of the pelvic floor.

The postpartum period involves significant physical and emotional changes, making it crucial to prioritize the parent’s health and well-being. Always communicate your symptoms and concerns with your healthcare provider to identify the cause and put you on the path to recovery.

Postpartum Physical Therapy for Pelvic Floor Tension

Pelvic floor physical therapy focuses on evaluating and treating pelvic floor dysfunction, including symptoms related to pregnancy and childbirth. Here is an overview of what you can expect during treatment.

How to Assess Pelvic Floor Health

An initial evaluation to assess your symptoms and pelvic floor health is the first step in physical therapy for pelvic floor health. The physical therapist watches how your gait and posture may impact your pelvic floor. With your consent, they perform internal and external exams to test pelvic floor muscle strength, tone, and flexibility.

Treatment Plan to Release Pelvic Floor Tension

Once your evaluation is complete, your therapist works with you to create a personalized treatment plan to restore flexibility and strength to pelvic floor muscles.

Pelvic floor relaxation exercises are often the foundation of physical therapy for this condition. They include you can do at home between visits to improve function and flexibility and speed up your recovery.

Your therapist shows you how to relax pelvic floor muscles with techniques like diaphragmatic breathing and gentle stretches. Manual therapies, including myofascial release, trigger point release, and biofeedback, can be highly effective for releasing tension and reducing pain.

Ongoing Education and Support

Throughout your postpartum physical therapy journey, your physical therapist continually monitors your progress to help you stay on track to reach treatment goals. They may teach you new ways to complete daily tasks to avoid aggravating your condition and simple lifestyle changes you can make for optimal pelvic floor health and function.

Take the First Step Toward Relief: Book Your Physical Therapy Appointment Today!

If you’re experiencing pelvic floor tension after pregnancy, it’s time to take control of your recovery. Don’t let discomfort, pain, or other symptoms hold you back. Physical therapy, a proven and effective treatment, can help restore balance, improve muscle function, and relieve tension in your pelvic floor.

Contact a pelvic floor physical therapist today and start your journey toward relief and recovery. Your body deserves the care it needs to heal and feel its best.