Pelvic Pain

Pelvic pain is defined as pain in the bowl of the pelvis, which is comprised of the 2 ileum and the sacrum at the bottom of the low back. Pain can occur due to problems with the reproductive organs of the body, the bladder, or the colon/lower part of the digestive tract. Pelvic pain can also occur when the 3 main bones of the pelvis become malaligned, placing undue stress on the ligaments and muscles that attach to the pelvis. The muscles that form the bottom of the pelvic bowl are known as the pelvic floor. They are important in sustaining good pelvic alignment as well as supporting the organs in the pelvis. Pelvic pain may occur after injury to the pelvic floor from a complicated birth, or due to severe weakness after stretching of the muscles with vaginal birth. In some cases, pelvic pain occurs as a response to emotional stress when the muscles of the pelvic floor become tense in a protective, guarding pattern. Physical therapy can be extremely helpful by re-aligning the pelvis, improving the pelvic floor’s strength and ability to sustain normal alignment, and by training muscles to relax and reduce unnecessary tension.