Ladies, let’s talk about a muscle group that doesn’t get nearly enough attention but can make or break your performance—your pelvic floor. Whether you’re crushing miles on the Coastal Trail, charging up Flattop, or dominating a CrossFit WOD, your pelvic floor is working overtime to keep you strong, stable, and leak-free. But when it’s not functioning properly? That’s when things get… inconvenient (hello, mid-run leaks) or even painful.
At Runners’ Edge, we believe pelvic floor physical therapy isn’t just for postpartum recovery—it’s for every active woman who wants to move better, feel stronger, and perform at her peak. Let’s break it down.
What Does the Pelvic Floor Actually Do?
Picture a hammock of muscles stretching from your pubic bone to your tailbone. This powerful but often-overlooked group has three main jobs:
✔ Stabilizing Your Core & Hips – Your pelvic floor is a key player in core strength, working alongside your abs, back, and diaphragm to keep you balanced and powerful.
✔ Supporting Your Organs – Your bladder, uterus, and rectum rely on these muscles for proper function (and preventing unwanted surprises during that long run).
✔ Controlling Pressure & Impact – Running, jumping, and lifting create intra-abdominal pressure, and your pelvic floor helps absorb that force—when it’s working well.
Signs You Might Need Pelvic Floor PT
Think pelvic floor issues only affect new moms? Think again. Here are some common signs that your pelvic floor might need some TLC:
🚩 You leak urine when running, jumping, or laughing (even a little is a sign of dysfunction).
🚩 You feel pressure or heaviness in your lower pelvis, especially after long workouts.
🚩 You have hip, lower back, or deep pelvic pain that won’t go away.
🚩 You struggle with core engagement or notice instability in your hips during movement.
🚩 You’re constantly dealing with hamstring or adductor tightness—often a sign your pelvic floor is compensating.
How Pelvic Floor PT Can Help You Move & Perform Better
A well-functioning pelvic floor is a game-changer for runners and active women. Here’s how working with a pelvic floor specialist at Runners’ Edge Alaska can help:
🔥 Improve Core Stability & Running Efficiency – A strong, coordinated pelvic floor means better posture, better alignment, and smoother, more powerful strides.
🔥 Reduce Leaks & Pressure – Strengthening and retraining these muscles can keep you confident on the run (no more tying a jacket around your waist ‘just in case’).
🔥 Prevent & Eliminate Pain – If your pelvic floor is too weak or too tight, it can throw off your entire kinetic chain, leading to everything from hip pain to knee issues.
🔥 Enhance Breathing & Endurance – Your pelvic floor works with your diaphragm to regulate breathing, and when they’re in sync, you’ll feel stronger and more efficient.
What to Expect in a Pelvic Floor PT Session
At our clinic, we take a whole-body approach to pelvic floor health. Your session might include:
A full-body movement assessment to see how your pelvic floor interacts with the rest of your muscles.
External assessments to evaluate muscle tightness, weakness, or coordination issues. If necessary, we can refer you to PTs who specialize in internal concerns.
Personalized exercises to retrain your pelvic floor, core, and hips for optimal function.
Education on breathwork, posture, and strategies to support your training goals; and even prenatal and postpartum care, including birth preparation.
Ready to Take Control of Your Pelvic Health?
If you’re tired of leaks, pain, or feeling like your core just isn’t working the way it should, pelvic floor PT might be your missing piece. At Runners’ Edge Alaska, our specialists help women (and men, but we’ll save that topic for another blog) get back to doing what they love—without discomfort or limitations.
