Irvine Pelvic Floor Pain Treatment Using PT Exercises

Pelvic floor pain traces back to many causes, including muscle tightness or weakness, poor coordination, trauma, improper posture, or even stress. Most everyone knows about Kegels for strengthening, but physical therapists know these exercises don’t help if the pelvic floor is already too tight.

Instead, Irvine physical therapists rely upon evidence-based physical therapy exercises and strategies for pelvic floor pain treatment. These specialists know that the pelvic floor treatment they provide must meet the individual’s needs and condition.  

The following are the most commonly used physical therapy exercises for relieving pelvic floor pain.

Diaphragmatic Breathing (Deep Belly Breathing)

Health care professionals often recommend deep belly breathing for reducing stress, lowering blood pressure, or reducing anxiety. However, physical therapists know this exercise also relaxes the pelvic floor and reduces tension.

The pelvic core and diaphragm work together as a team every time you breathe. When you inhale, the diaphragm contracts and lowers, creating more space in your lungs. This contraction gently pushes your abdominal organs downward. That pressure gently stretches and lengthens the pelvic floor muscles.

As you exhale, the diaphragm rises and the pelvic floor gently lifts slightly.  A dysfunctional pelvic floor fails to follow this rhythm.  So, regular deep belly breathing sessions retrain the muscles to work properly.

Happy Baby Pose

This yoga pose stretches the inner thighs, hips, and pelvic floor.  Stretching relieves the tightness causing pelvic floor pain.

The stretch begins with the adductors as the knees pull wide and down. The wider the knees and the more downward movement, the deeper the stretch. The adductor muscles attach to the pelvis, so when they are tight, they indirectly pull on the pelvic floor and restrict its motion.

The hips get a gentle stretch as the hips externally rotate and the legs open. This pose also encourages muscle lengthening and widens the pelvic outlet.

Child’s Pose

Combining the child’s pose with deep breathing, physical therapists use this exercise for pelvic floor pain to release the lower back, hips, and pelvic floor tension.

When you go into the child’s pose, you perform a passive mechanical lengthening of the levator ani group of pelvic floor muscles (pubococcygeus, puborectalis, iliococcygeus). This sends a signal to overactive pelvic floor muscles to stop bracing.

In addition, the pose with deep breathing stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system through deep pressure at the forehead and long, slow exhalations. Combined with a grounding body posture, the result is a neurochemical shift that reduces muscle tone, pain sensitivity, and hypervigilance in the pelvic region.

The Role of Myofascial Release in Pelvic Floor Pain Treatment

Physical therapists use myofascial release in addition to physical therapy exercises to relieve pelvic floor pain and dysfunction.

In the pelvic region, fascia connects:

• Pelvic floor muscles

• Abdominal muscles

• Glutes and hips

• Sacrum and tailbone

• Internal organs

So, if any part of this system is tight or restricted, it pulls or compresses the pelvic floor, causing pain.

Chronic clenching dehydrates fascia, makes it sticky, and shortens or distorts the structure. With myofascial release, the therapist applies pressure that uncoils collagen fibers, restores mobility, and improves fascial glide. Trigger points are deactivated and nervous system balance is restored.

Pelvic Floor Pain Treatment in Irvine, Newport Beach, and Laguna Beach

Men and women suffering from pelvic floor pain find relief through physical therapy at Balanced Body Depot.

Licensed physical therapists provide pelvic floor pain treatment through holistic physical therapy, targeted exercises, and myofascial release.

Schedule a free consultation today.