If your back keeps “going out” or your hips always feel tight despite everything you’ve tried—you’re not alone.

Many women in their 30s, 40s, and beyond juggle busy lives while silently managing nagging low back pain, hip tension, or discomfort that comes and goes without a clear cause. For some, the pain flares after a long walk. For others, it shows up after lifting a toddler or unloading groceries. And frustratingly, the cycle often continues—stretch, massage, rest, repeat.

But what if the real issue hasn’t been looked at yet? What if pelvic floor therapy is the missing link?

A Common Patient Story

Let me share an example that may feel familiar.

A woman in her late 30s came into my clinic feeling frustrated and worn out. Her back would “go out” every couple of months. She loved being active, cared for her family, and managed a lot—but this pain kept interfering with her life. She’d seen chiropractors, massage therapists, and traditional PTs. Some helped temporarily. But the tightness and discomfort always came back.

Despite regular stretching, foam rolling, and even yoga, her low back and hamstrings always felt tight. She assumed it was just her body—until her pelvic floor was assessed.
During her evaluation, we discovered:

● She couldn’t take a slow, deep belly breath.
● Her low back muscles overworked every time she bent down.
● She couldn’t hinge at her hips without rounding her spine.
● During a balloon-blow and light cough test, her abdominal wall bulged outward—a clear sign her deep core wasn’t supporting her well.
● With a pelvic floor assessment, we found overactive muscles that couldn’t fully relax.

No amount of hamstring stretches could solve what was actually a coordination and pressure management issue. That’s when the real healing began.

Why Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Low Back Pain Often Go Together

Research supports what we see clinically every day:

“Women with chronic low back pain were found to have significantly more pelvic floor dysfunction, including pelvic floor muscle overactivity and incoordination, compared to those without.”
—Clinical Journal of Pain, Vol. 24, Issue 5

The pelvic floor doesn’t work in isolation. It’s part of a system—along with your diaphragm, deep abdominals, and spinal stabilizers—called the core canister. When one part of the system isn’t doing its job, the others compensate. That compensation often shows up as chronic pain, tension, or injury.

Tight hamstrings, a tense low back, recurring SI joint pain, or difficulty taking a full breath are all signs your deep core may be out of sync.

For women, this disconnection often begins during pregnancy, postpartum, or with years of over-recruiting surface-level core muscles. Over time, the body’s default strategies become inefficient and even harmful. Pelvic floor muscles that are always “on” can’t support you well—and this often leads to injury, strain, or urinary leakage.

What We Do Differently: The Full-Body Pelvic Health Assessment

If you’ve only ever had your low back or hips looked at in isolation, you may have missed the bigger picture.
A pelvic health physical therapist trained in whole-body assessments will:

● Evaluate your standing posture and balance
● Observe how you bend, lift, and move throughout the day
● Assess breathing patterns (are you chest breathing or belly breathing?)
● Check coordination and strength of your core and glutes
● Assess pelvic floor tension, strength, and connection (with consent, through an internal exam)

These assessments are not just physical—they’re also about helping you reconnect to your body. Many women express that they’ve felt disconnected from their core or unsure how to safely move after having children, surgery, or years of chronic pain.
We’re here to bridge that gap with expert support and simple, sustainable tools.

What About Kegels?

One of the most common mistakes we see is women being told to “just do Kegels.”
Here’s the truth:

● If your pelvic floor is overactive, Kegels can make things worse.
● If your core and pelvic floor aren’t working together, you might not even be activating the right muscles.

This is why personalized care is essential. Pelvic PTs are trained to determine whether your muscles need to relax, strengthen, coordinate—or all three. It’s never a one-size-fits-all solution.

And it’s not just about doing exercises—it’s about learning when and how to use your deep core during real-life movement.

A Roadmap to Recovery

Our approach always begins with a clear understanding of where you are. For this patient, her journey started with the basics:

● Breathwork: She practiced slow, full belly breaths lying on her back.
● Hip hinging: Instead of rounding her back, she learned to hinge at her hips.
● Habit stacking: She paired practicing her hinge with washing her hands at the sink—an easy way to build a new pattern into her daily life.

In the early weeks, we focused on:

● Realignment
● Core activation without gripping
● Teaching her nervous system to feel safe while moving again

We call this foundation the 4 Pillars of Core & Pelvic Health:

1. Breath – Regulating pressure and supporting the diaphragm-pelvic floor connection
2. Alignment – Finding a posture that allows your muscles to work efficiently
3. Coordination – Re-training your core and pelvic floor to engage at the right time
4. Glute & Hip Strength – Supporting movement and reducing strain on your spine and pelvis

Before long, she was performing more advanced strength exercises. By week 6, she was lifting 10–15 lb kettlebells and confidently moving through higher-level exercises with excellent form.

By week 8, she hadn’t had a single flare-up.

We celebrated every step together—because healing isn’t just about eliminating pain. It’s about restoring confidence in your body.

Real Life Wins

Not only was her low back pain gone, but she also noticed a surprising bonus: she wasn’t leaking urine when she sneezed anymore.

She had written that off as a “normal” result of childbirth. But with pelvic floor therapy, she discovered that normal isn’t always optimal—and that healing was possible.

She could now lift her child, carry a box from Costco, and clean her house without needing to lie down afterward. She had reclaimed energy and confidence that had been missing for years.

This is the kind of outcome we see when we stop treating symptoms in silos and start supporting the whole person.

The Power of Looking at the Whole Person

Pelvic health isn’t just about symptoms. It’s about function—how your body moves, adapts, and supports you through daily life.

When providers focus only on the painful spot (your back, your hip), they often miss the root cause.

When we assess the whole body and include the pelvic floor in our plan, the results are lasting.

At Pinnacle Women’s Therapeutics, our care doesn’t end at the treatment table. We educate, empower, and equip you with the knowledge to care for your body long-term.

We also recognize the emotional weight of chronic pain. You deserve a care plan that sees your strength, listens to your concerns, and walks alongside you with real answers.

Are You Ready to Finally Feel Better?

If you’re tired of chasing symptoms and want a clear, customized plan that actually works, you’renot alone—and you’re not stuck.

At Pinnacle Women’s Therapeutics we specialize in helping women uncover and heal the real source of their pain.

Let us help you get back to what you love—feeling strong, confident, and supported in your own body.