Pelvic Pain in Women
Pelvic pain in women is more common than many people realize and can present in many different ways. For women experiencing pelvic pain in Boca Raton, physical therapy can help identify contributing factors and develop an individualized treatment approach. Symptoms may be felt in the pelvis, lower abdomen, vulva, vagina, rectum, hips, low back, or surrounding areas and may be constant or triggered by certain activities.
Pelvic pain rarely has just one potential contributor. Symptoms may be influenced by pelvic floor or surrounding muscle tension, posture, breathing patterns, nerve irritation, fascial restrictions, circulation, or changes in the urinary and gastrointestinal systems.
Abdominal or pelvic surgery may also contribute to symptoms through changes in tissue mobility, scar formation, connective tissue, or movement patterns. Conditions such as interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome, endometriosis, PCOS, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome may also occur alongside pelvic pain.
Because pelvic pain can have several contributing factors, treatment begins by understanding your individual symptoms, triggers, health history, and goals rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach.
How Physical Therapy Can Help With Pelvic Pain
A thorough history helps us understand possible sources of your pain, how your symptoms are affecting your quality of life, and what your immediate and long-term goals are.
Your evaluation may look at the musculoskeletal, neurological, visceral (organ), and fascial systems and how those systems may be interacting and contributing to your symptoms.
We use a biopsychosocial approach, recognizing that persistent pain can affect much more than the tissues themselves. Treatment considers movement, the nervous system, daily activities, stressors, and the social and emotional impact that pain may have on your life.
Treatment may also include strategies commonly used in pelvic floor physical therapy , depending on your symptoms, goals, and comfort level.
Our goal is to help you restore comfortable movement, better understand your symptoms, and feel empowered in your treatment plan. When other factors contributing to your pain fall outside the scope of physical therapy, we collaborate with or recommend additional providers as appropriate.