Pelvic Floor Therapy

Frequently Asked Questions About Pelvic Floor Therapy

Pelvic floor therapy is a proven treatment for a wide range of conditions affecting both women and men—yet it remains unfamiliar to many people who could benefit from it. Countless individuals live with urinary leakage, pelvic pain, sexual difficulties, and other life-limiting symptoms without realizing that specialized physical therapy offers real solutions. At Santa Fe Pelvic Floor & Physical Therapy, Jacqueline Maestas, DPT, provides comprehensive care that targets the underlying causes of pelvic dysfunction rather than simply masking symptoms.

Learning what pelvic floor therapy involves, who it helps, and what treatment looks like empowers patients to take the first step toward relief. The following questions address the most common concerns people have when exploring this specialized form of care.

What Is Pelvic Floor Therapy?

Pelvic floor therapy is a specialized branch of physical therapy focused on the muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues that support the pelvic organs—including the bladder, uterus or prostate, and rectum. These muscles govern urinary and bowel control, contribute to sexual function, and help stabilize the pelvis and lower spine. When pelvic floor muscles become overly tight, weakened, or poorly coordinated, a broad range of symptoms can develop. Pelvic floor therapy addresses these issues through hands-on techniques, targeted exercises, and patient education.

Who Benefits from Pelvic Floor Therapy?

Pelvic floor therapy helps anyone—regardless of age or gender—experiencing symptoms tied to pelvic floor dysfunction. Women commonly seek treatment for bladder leakage, painful intercourse, pelvic organ prolapse, or persistent pelvic pain. Men benefit from therapy addressing prostatitis symptoms, erectile difficulties, post-surgical urinary problems, and chronic pelvic discomfort. Individuals struggling with chronic constipation, painful bowel movements, tailbone pain, or lower back pain unresponsive to conventional treatment may also have underlying pelvic floor dysfunction that targeted therapy can resolve.

What Conditions Does Pelvic Floor Therapy Treat?

Pelvic floor therapy addresses a wide spectrum of conditions including stress, urge, and mixed urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, chronic pelvic pain, painful intercourse, vaginismus, endometriosis-related discomfort, painful menstruation, constipation, and fecal incontinence. In men, treatment targets chronic prostatitis, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, bladder issues, and complications following prostate surgery. Therapy also supports pregnancy-related concerns like pelvic girdle pain and diastasis recti, and guides postpartum recovery by rebuilding pelvic floor strength and coordination.

What Happens During a Pelvic Floor Therapy Session?

Initial sessions begin with a thorough evaluation that includes detailed health history, symptom discussion, and functional assessment. The therapist examines posture, movement patterns, breathing mechanics, and external musculature before performing an internal assessment if clinically indicated and consented to. This internal evaluation measures muscle tone, strength, coordination, and identifies tender areas or restrictions requiring attention. Treatment may include external and internal manual therapy to release tight muscles and fascia, biofeedback to teach proper muscle activation, therapeutic exercises addressing weakness or incoordination, and guidance on bladder habits, posture, and home exercises.

Is Pelvic Floor Therapy Painful?

Pelvic floor therapy should not be painful, though patients with significant muscle tension or sensitivity may experience temporary discomfort during manual release—similar to deep tissue massage in other parts of the body. Jacqueline Maestas, DPT, works within each patient’s comfort level, adjusting pressure and techniques based on real-time feedback. Many patients actually feel immediate relief during sessions as tight muscles release and circulation improves. Any post-treatment soreness typically resolves within a day or two.

How Long Does Pelvic Floor Therapy Take to Work?

Results vary depending on symptom severity, how long the dysfunction has been present, underlying conditions, and consistency with home exercises and lifestyle modifications. Some patients notice improvement after just a few sessions, while others require several weeks or months of steady treatment to reach their goals. Most patients complete six to twelve sessions over a period of months, though complex or long-standing conditions may need additional time. Progress tends to be gradual, with symptoms steadily decreasing rather than disappearing all at once.

Will Pelvic Floor Therapy Require Internal Work?

Internal examination and treatment are often valuable components of pelvic floor therapy because they allow direct assessment and release of the pelvic floor muscles. However, not every patient requires internal work, and some achieve significant improvement through external techniques alone. When internal treatment is recommended, informed consent is always obtained beforehand. Jacqueline Maestas, DPT, explains the purpose and process of internal work, answers all questions, and fully respects each patient’s preferences and comfort level.

Can Pelvic Floor Therapy Help with Sexual Function?

Pelvic floor therapy can substantially improve sexual function by releasing muscle tension that causes painful intercourse, enhancing blood flow to sexual tissues, restoring the coordination necessary for arousal and orgasm, and reducing anxiety surrounding intimacy. In women, therapy addresses vaginismus, painful penetration, and difficulty climaxing. In men, treatment targets erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and painful ejaculation. These improvements often have a profound positive impact on quality of life and intimate relationships.

What Should I Expect After Completing Pelvic Floor Therapy?

Upon completing treatment, most patients experience significant symptom reduction or resolution and have gained the knowledge and tools to maintain their progress independently. Patients leave with self-management strategies including exercises, stretches, and behavioral modifications they can continue at home. Some individuals benefit from occasional follow-up sessions if symptoms begin to resurface. Long-term success depends on continuing the habits and practices learned during treatment.

Pelvic Floor Therapy | Santa Fe

Pelvic floor therapy delivers effective relief for a wide range of conditions—from urinary incontinence and pelvic pain to sexual dysfunction and post-surgical complications. Understanding what this specialized treatment involves and who it helps empowers patients to seek care rather than endure treatable symptoms unnecessarily.

At Santa Fe Pelvic Floor & Physical Therapy, Jacqueline Maestas, DPT, provides compassionate, expert care addressing pelvic floor dysfunction through proven, evidence-based treatment. If you are experiencing symptoms related to pelvic floor dysfunction, schedule a consultation to learn how pelvic floor therapy can improve your comfort and quality of life.

Santa Fe Pelvic Floor Therapy: 505-988-4922