When you think about low back pain treatment, you probably picture a chiropractor, orthopedic physical therapist, or massage therapist. And while those are good options, there’s one highly overlooked specialist you need to have on your team: a pelvic floor physical therapist.
Yep — even if you’ve never had a baby. Even if you don’t think you have pelvic floor issues. Even if no one has mentioned it.
If you’ve been searching for chronic low back pain relief, a better way to manage postpartum back pain, or a long-term solution for recurring low back pain, keep reading. I promise you – this might be the missing link.
What Does the Pelvic Floor Have to Do with Your Low Back Pain?
Spoiler alert: everything.
Your pelvic floor muscles are part of your deep core canister. They work together with your diaphragm, deep abdominal muscles (transverse abdominis), and lower back stabilizers (like your multifidus) to create a pressure system that supports your spine and pelvis through every move you make — from breathing to lifting to sneezing. The pelvic floor is the bottom of that canister and if we’re not addressing it, we’re missing part of the picture.
When one of those muscles (like your pelvic floor) isn’t pulling its weight? The others pick up the slack. And your low back ends up taking the hit.
This is why many people dealing with persistent low back pain or postpartum back pain end up chasing symptoms for years without lasting relief — because no one’s checked what’s happening at their pelvic floor.
How Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Causes Low Back Pain
Here’s the deal: you don’t have to be peeing yourself, feeling pelvic pressure, or having pain with sex to have pelvic floor dysfunction. Sometimes, it shows up in sneakier ways -like chronic lower back pain or difficulty lifting heavy- that won’t quit.
Signs it might be pelvic-floor related:
- Your back “grabs” or spasms when you lift
- You feel like you’re always stretching, but nothing stays loose
- Pain flares up around your period or after sex
- You’ve had kids and your core or back has never felt the same
- Core exercises make your back worse instead of better
- You deal with hip pain and stiffness alongside your low back pain
If any of these sound familiar, your pelvic floor muscles might be part of the problem.
What a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist Can Do for Your Low Back Pain
A pelvic floor physical therapy evaluation looks at way more than just your back. It considers how your pelvic floor, core, hips, posture, breathing mechanics, and scar tissue (from things like C-sections or abdominal surgeries) all work together.
Here’s what you can expect:
- Assessment of your pelvic floor function – via internal or external exam (with your consent)
- Evaluation of core coordination -making sure your pelvic floor, deep core, and back stabilizers are working together
- Postural and movement analysis – to catch habits that are overloading your spine and pelvis
- Scar tissue release – especially after C-sections, episiotomies, or other abdominal surgeries
- Treatment for pelvic asymmetry and hip restrictions -which often drive recurring low back pain
- Progressive, core-safe strengthening – that respects what your core and pelvic floor have been through
- Assessment of your hinge pattern yes, the mechanics you perform to lift those things off the floor.
It’s not just another cookie-cutter low back pain treatment plan. It’s individualized, full-body care that gets to the root cause.
Why Traditional Low Back Pain Treatments Often Fall Short
You can stretch, foam roll, and ice your back for days – but if no one’s addressed the underlying dysfunction in your core and pelvic floor system, you’re just putting a temporary patch on it.
You need to get off of your back and load the supporting structures to have it carry over to your day-to-day life.
Yes, soft tissue and manipulation can feel great in the moment. But without fixing your deep core muscle coordination and pelvic floor tension or weakness, that relief won’t last.
Pelvic floor physical therapy for low back pain doesn’t chase symptoms it corrects the why behind them.
Who Should Consider Pelvic PT for Low Back Pain?
In short: a lot more people than you’d think.
Especially if:
- You’ve had a baby (vaginal, C-section – doesn’t matter)
- You’ve had pelvic or abdominal surgeries
- You have persistent low back pain that flares up with activity
- Your back pain is worse around your menstrual cycle
- You’ve tried other treatments without lasting relief
- You notice pain with core exercises or don’t feel like you’re able to use your core
- You’re dealing with hip or SI joint pain alongside back pain
- You think you have “sciatica”
If you’ve been Googling things like:
- “why does my back hurt after having a baby”
- “postpartum back pain won’t go away”
- “pelvic floor physical therapy for back pain”
- “core exercises making my back hurt”
- “why does my back hurt when I deadlift”
- “how to reduce my back pain while lifting”
…it’s time to schedule with a pelvic PT.
The Bottom Line
If no one’s ever checked your pelvic floor as part of your low back pain treatment plan, it’s time they did. Your core is a system – and it starts at the bottom.
Pelvic floor physical therapy for low back pain isn’t just about kegels or fixing incontinence. It’s about restoring balance to your entire core, improving stability, reducing pain, and helping you move better long-term.
You deserve care that considers your whole body, not just your back.
Ready to Improve Your Back for Good?
If you’re local to Cape May County or the surrounding areas, I’d love to help. Schedule your pelvic floor physical therapy evaluation for low back pain today — and let’s get to the root of what’s going on.
