Pelvic Pain

Pelvic floor physical therapy is a powerful tool for the treatment of pelvic pain. Several mechanisms of injury may lead to spasm of the pelvic floor including traumatic vaginal delivery, abdominal or pelvic surgery, prolonged driving, occupations that require prolonged sitting, gait disturbances, traumatic injury to the back or pelvis, or sexual abuse. Pelvic floor dysfunction can also arise in response to other common chronic pain syndromes, such as endometriosis, irritable bowel disease, vulvodynia, and interstitial cystitis.

Patients with the following symptoms or diagnoses should be assessed by a pelvic floor physical therapist:

• Coccydynia
• Vulvodynia
• Pain with intercourse
• Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
• Painful bowel movements
• Interstitial cystitis
• Pain with prolonged sitting