The pelvic floor is a group of muscles located at the base of your pelvis. These muscles play a vital role in your body’s core stability, bladder and bowel control, and sexual function. They also help support the uterus and other internal organs, especially during life events like pregnancy, childbirth, and aging.
Think of the pelvic floor as a hammock or sling—it holds everything in place and works together with your diaphragm, deep abdominals, and back muscles to keep your core system strong and balanced. When these muscles are functioning well, you move with ease, stay continent, and feel supported.
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But when the pelvic floor becomes too tight, too weak, or poorly coordinated, it can lead to a range of symptoms—from urinary leakage and pelvic pain to instability and discomfort with movement. Pelvic floor physical therapy is designed to address these issues by restoring proper function and coordination to this critical area of the body.
Pelvic floor dysfunction doesn’t always show up as obvious pain—it often appears in subtle, frustrating ways that many women are told are “normal” or “just part of aging.” But symptoms that interfere with comfort, confidence, or movement are signals that your pelvic floor may need support.
Here are some of the most common signs:
These issues are common—but not normal. If any of them sound familiar, pelvic floor physical therapy can help address the root cause, not just mask the symptoms.
A woman’s pelvic floor is deeply influenced by the natural transitions her body goes through. From adolescence to menopause, each life stage brings hormonal shifts, physical changes, and new demands that can affect pelvic floor function—sometimes without you even realizing it.
During pregnancy, the pelvic floor bears increasing pressure as the uterus grows. Hormonal changes also loosen ligaments and connective tissue, which can affect how the muscles support your organs. Many women begin to experience leakage, heaviness, or discomfort—even before delivery.
After childbirth, the pelvic floor often needs time and support to heal. Whether you delivered vaginally or by C-section, the muscles, fascia, and nerves may be weakened, stretched, or disrupted—leading to symptoms like core instability, urinary incontinence, or pain.
As estrogen levels decline, pelvic tissues become thinner and less elastic. This can result in increased urgency, leakage, or pelvic organ prolapse. Strengthening and coordinating the pelvic floor during this stage can help protect long-term health and comfort.
Pelvic floor physical therapy supports women through each of these stages—helping you stay active, confident, and in control of your body at every age.
Starting pelvic floor physical therapy can feel intimidating, especially if you’re unsure what to expect. At Elevation Athletics, we prioritize education, consent, and comfort—so you always feel in control and supported throughout your care.
Your first visit typically begins with a detailed conversation about your health history, current symptoms, activity level, and goals. We’ll ask questions about bladder and bowel habits, pelvic pain, posture, breathing, and any changes you’ve experienced during pregnancy, postpartum, or menopause.
Next, we assess how your body moves. This includes posture, breathing mechanics, core activation, hip mobility, and functional strength. These movement patterns often give us valuable clues about how your pelvic floor is working—or compensating.
If appropriate and with your full consent, we may include an internal pelvic exam. This allows your therapist to assess the strength, coordination, and tension of the pelvic floor muscles directly. It’s never required, and we’ll walk you through every step so you feel safe and informed.
The goal of your evaluation is to build a clear, personalized plan to restore pelvic function—without guesswork or pressure.
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Pelvic floor physical therapy is more than Kegels. It’s a full-body, evidence-based approach that restores healthy coordination between your pelvic floor, core, breath, and movement patterns—so you can feel stronger, more comfortable, and more in control of your daily life.
We teach you how to use your diaphragm and pelvic floor together through functional breathing. This reduces excess pressure on the pelvic floor and supports better core activation during exercise and daily movement.
With your consent, your PT may use gentle internal or external techniques to release tight muscles, improve circulation, and reduce tension that’s contributing to pain or dysfunction.
We retrain your brain-body connection so your pelvic floor responds appropriately—relaxing when it should, activating when it needs to. This is key for improving continence, reducing pain, and supporting athletic movement.
We assess how you move—during squats, lifting, walking, or running—and provide cues and corrections to improve alignment, balance, and pelvic floor engagement.
Pelvic floor therapy often includes strengthening weak muscles, improving hip mobility, and integrating core exercises tailored to your body and goals.
This approach is holistic, empowering, and customized—whether you’re managing symptoms, returning to sport, or just want to feel more confident in your body.
If you're an active woman, runner, lifter, or fitness enthusiast, your pelvic floor works hard—often without you realizing it. Every time you brace for a lift, hit the pavement, or power through a workout, those deep stabilizing muscles are managing pressure, supporting your spine, and controlling movement from the inside out.
But when the pelvic floor isn’t functioning optimally, you might notice:
Pelvic floor therapy helps active women restore that connection and build true core strength—not just abs, but the deep stability system that keeps your body resilient under load and impact.
At Elevation Athletics, we tailor your care to your activity level and goals. Whether you’re returning to training postpartum or prepping for your next race or competition, we make sure your pelvic floor supports your performance, not limits it.
At Elevation Athletics, we understand that pelvic floor concerns are deeply personal—and often under-discussed. That’s why we’ve created a space where women in Fort Worth feel seen, heard, and fully supported throughout their care.
From your very first visit, our focus is on trust and communication. We take time to explain each step of the process, answer your questions, and ensure you feel comfortable with every decision made about your care. Whether you’re nervous about an internal exam or unsure what’s “normal,” you’re never rushed or judged.
Our therapists are trained in trauma-informed care and prioritize patient consent above all else. You’re always in control of your treatment plan—and we adapt our approach to your comfort level, goals, and lifestyle.
We also recognize that pelvic health doesn’t exist in a vacuum. That’s why we take a whole-body approach, integrating movement, strength, and recovery strategies that go far beyond traditional PT. You leave our care feeling stronger, more connected, and more confident in your body.
Pelvic floor therapy is still a new concept for many women, and it’s normal to have questions. Here are some of the most common ones we hear at Elevation Athletics:
No. While internal assessments can provide valuable information about muscle tone and function, they are never required. We always ask for informed consent and offer effective external treatment options if you prefer.
Pelvic floor therapy should never feel harmful. Some techniques may cause mild discomfort if muscles are tight or irritated, but we adjust our approach based on your comfort level and responses. Our goal is to help you feel better—not worse.
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Not at all. While postpartum recovery is a common reason women seek pelvic PT, we also work with athletes, perimenopausal and menopausal women, and those with symptoms like pain, leakage, or pressure—regardless of childbirth history.
Many women notice improvements within a few sessions, especially with consistent home practice. Total duration depends on the severity of symptoms and your goals, but our plans are designed to build long-term progress—not just short-term relief.
You don’t have to live with discomfort, leakage, or pelvic pain—and you don’t have to figure it out on your own. Whether you're navigating postpartum recovery, dealing with symptoms that just won’t go away, or looking to enhance your athletic performance, Elevation Athletics is here to help.
Our Fort Worth team specializes in pelvic floor physical therapy that’s compassionate, personalized, and results-driven. We’ll guide you through each step of the process, helping you rebuild strength, restore confidence, and reconnect with your body in a safe, supportive space.
Ready to take control of your pelvic health? Learn more about our pelvic floor therapy services or contact us today to schedule your first appointment.