01/23/2026
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, connective tissues and nerves located at the base of the pelvis. These muscles play an essential role in supporting the pelvic organs, pelvic and hip bones, and spine, maintaining bladder and bowel control, and contributing to sexual function. These muscles work together with the whole-body system (how we breathe, how we move, strength and flexibility of abdominals, buttocks and hip muscles) to function properly.
All muscles in the human body are designed to contract and relax - and the pelvic floor is no exception. When these muscles remain in a constantly tense or contracted state, normal blood flow to the area becomes restricted, nerves can become irritated, compensation patterns develop and can cause pain and dysfunction both in and outside of the pelvis. This can present as pelvic pain - such as pain with sitting, tailbone pain, pain with intimacy, pain with pelvic exam, difficulty going to the bathroom, leakage, prolapse and even foot and hip pain. Dysfunction of the pelvic floor muscles can negatively impact fetal positioning in pregnancy, labor and delivery outcomes, and post-partum rehabilitation.
As pelvic pain persists, the body often responds by involuntarily tightening or guarding the pelvic floor as a protective mechanism. Unfortunately, this reaction only perpetuates the problem - creating a cycle where tension causes pain, and pain causes even more tension and dysfunction. Thats why pain and signs of dysfunction should NEVER be ignored or “pushed through” or put on hold until someone is “done having kids”. The sooner we intervene, the better the outcomes in the shortest amount of time.
An overactive pelvic floor can significantly impact quality of life. Common symptoms include:
👉🏼Pain with sexual in*******se
👉🏼Difficulty inserting or removing a tampon
👉🏼Pain during gynecological exams such as pap smears or routine vaginal exams
👉🏼Difficulty starting urine flow
👉🏼Incomplete emptying of the bladder or bowels
👉🏼Chronic constipation
👉🏼Incontinence
👉🏼Prolapse
👉🏼Tailbone, hip, back, sciatic nerve irritation, and foot pain
*see comments for more!
