Pelvic Floor PT Is Not Only for Postpartum: What Everyone Should Know About Pelvic Health

For a long time, pelvic floor physical therapy has been viewed through a narrow lens, something new moms need after having a baby. And while postpartum care is a vital part of pelvic health, it is only one piece of a much larger story.

The truth is simple. Every body has a pelvic floor, and dysfunction affects far more people than most realize. Active adults, men, lifters, runners, and individuals who have never been pregnant often experience pelvic floor issues without ever recognizing the source. Understanding the pelvic floor as part of your overall movement system can change the way you think about strength, stability, and long-term wellbeing.

The Pelvic Floor Matters for Every Body

Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles at the base of the pelvis that serves as the foundation of your core. It works closely with the diaphragm, deep abdominal muscles, and hip stabilizers to keep you supported and steady during everyday life and athletic movement.

It plays key roles such as:

• Maintaining spinal and pelvic stability

• Managing pressure during lifting, running, and bracing

• Supporting bladder and bowel control

• Coordinating deep core strength

• Controlling breath under load

• Transferring force through the hips and trunk

When these muscles are weak, overactive, or poorly coordinated, the effects show up throughout the body in ways that do not always look like pelvic floor dysfunction.

Pelvic Floor Symptoms Are Often Hiding in Plain Sight

Many people live with pelvic floor issues for years without realizing it. Symptoms often get labeled as tight hips, unstable core, stubborn low back pain, or poor movement patterns.

Common signs include:

• Low back pain that returns no matter how much you stretch

• Hip, groin, or abdominal tightness

• Leaking during workouts or running

• Pelvic pressure or heaviness

• Pain with sitting or standing

• Pain with intimacy

• Difficulty relaxing or engaging the pelvic floor

• A constant sense of bracing in the abdomen

• Trouble generating core tension under load

These issues are common, but not normal. They are simply unaddressed.

Why Pelvic Floor Issues Are Frequently Missed

Pelvic floor dysfunction is often overlooked because:

• Symptoms resemble orthopedic injuries

• Many evaluations do not include pelvic floor screening

• Active people have strong compensations that mask the underlying issue

• Individuals assume symptoms are due to aging, stress, or training volume

At EVO, it is not uncommon to see a runner with persistent hip tightness, a lifter with recurring low back pain, or an active adult who feels disconnected from their core years after childbirth. In many cases, the pelvic floor plays a central role.

Pelvic Floor PT Supports More Than Postpartum Care

Pelvic floor therapy can be transformative for many groups, including:

Men

Men experience pelvic floor dysfunction more often than expected. Sitting long hours, lifting heavy, poor pressure management, and stress-related tension can all contribute.

Athletes and Active Adults

The pelvic floor is a major player in force transfer. Dysfunction can show up as leaking during workouts, persistent hip or back pain, difficulty maintaining tension during lifts, or trouble accessing deep core strength.

People Managing Chronic Tightness or Instability

Unresolved tightness or recurring pain in the hips, low back, or pelvis often has a pelvic floor component.

Pregnancy and Postpartum

Pregnancy and postpartum remain key areas of pelvic floor care, supporting recovery from diastasis recti, pelvic pressure, C-section healing, and core reintegration.

How EVO Approaches Pelvic Floor Therapy

EVO’s pelvic floor therapy is not isolated or passive. It is integrated into a full-body, performance-driven model that examines how the pelvic floor interacts with the entire movement system.This includes:

• Breath mechanics

• Core control and stability

• Hip strength and mobility

• Pressure regulation during movement

• Strength under load

• Compensations and movement patterns

Instead of focusing only on symptoms, we address the why behind the dysfunction and create a personalized plan that supports long-term recovery and strength.

What to Expect From a Pelvic Floor Assessment

A pelvic floor evaluation at EVO may include:

• A full-body movement screen

• Assessment of breath and pressure strategies

• Hip and lumbar mobility testing

• Pelvic floor muscle coordination assessment

• Manual therapy when appropriate

• Strength and control testing

• A personalized plan rooted in your goals and lifestyle demands

The goal is clarity, not guesswork. A deeper understanding of how your pelvic floor integrates with the rest of your body provides a clear path forward.

Ready to Learn More About Your Pelvic Floor

If you are navigating recurring tightness, stubborn low back pain, leaking with exercise, or a sense that your core is not working the way it should, pelvic floor therapy may be an important step.

A comprehensive evaluation can help you understand what is happening, why it is happening, and how to restore function that lasts.

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Book a pelvic floor assessment at EVO Performance Therapy and reconnect with the strength, stability, and control your body is designed for.

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