What is Tailbone Pain?
Tailbone pain, or coccydynia, often gets neglected until it starts to get in the way of your life. Left untreated, the pelvic floor muscles may become dysfunctional and cause other urinary, bowel, and sexual dysfunction. The tailbone, or coccyx, sits at the very bottom tip of the spine. It’s a sitter’s stabilizer, but it’s also prone to injury. Most people think tailbone pain is caused by sitting for long periods of time, especially on hard surfaces but there are many causes of tailbone pain.
Injury or trauma to the coccyx, such as a fall or bump, is a frequent cause. It can also be experienced during postpartum recovery—most women have tailbone pain after delivery because the pelvic floor muscles are strained or there is trauma to the joint that connects the tailbone to the sacrum. Muscle imbalances or poor posture can also cause excessive stress to the tailbone.
That is where pelvic floor therapy is useful. By taking care of the muscles that stabilize the pelvic area, you are able to cure the source of tailbone pain and put an end to the agony.
Pelvic Floor Therapy Simplified
Pelvic floor therapy is really all about strengthening and balancing the muscles at the back of your pelvis. These muscles support your organs, your spine, and even regulate functions such as bladder and bowel movements. If these muscles are tight or weak, they’ll spasm and be painful, especially in the area of the tailbone.
A pelvic floor physical therapist works with you to relax constricted muscles and fortify weakened areas, rebalancing the pelvic region. The therapist uses gentle hands-on therapy, exercise, and relaxation methods to treat the root cause of pain. This therapy is not exclusive to women; it can help anyone experiencing tailbone pain, regardless of whether it’s due to injury, posture, or postpartum.
You can think of it as a means to retrain the core muscles of your body to work properly, giving you long-term relief and preventing the pain from ever returning. By correcting pelvic imbalances, pelvic floor therapy provides your body with what it needs to heal on its own.
How Pelvic Floor Therapy Relieves Tailbone Pain?
How does pelvic floor therapy for tailbone pain help? The answer lies in how your pelvic floor muscles interact with the rest of your body. These muscles support your pelvic organs, spine, hips, and lower back. The pelvic floor muscles also directly attach to the tailbone and stabilizes the tailbone. If these muscles are too tight, too weak, or misaligned, they can alter the position of your coccyx and create pain.
Through therapy, a professional will help to release tension in the muscles of the pelvis that may be pulling on the tailbone. They may use soft tissue techniques or manual therapy to stretch and loosen the muscles so they can move better. The therapist will also help you with the strengthening exercises that will increase pelvic stability and stabilize the lower back.
This balance of releasing tension and contracting muscles decreases pressure on the coccyx and relieves pain. Through correcting imbalances, pelvic floor therapy enables pelvic muscles to function more in harmony, decreasing tailbone stress and facilitating improved posture. Through ongoing therapy over a period of time, you will feel less pain, greater mobility, and a more secure pelvic base to avoid future pain.
What Happens During a Pelvic Floor Therapy Session?
The idea of pelvic floor therapy may scare you at first, but have no fear, the procedure is easy, safe, and not painful. Here’s what happens during your first session:
The therapist will initially inquire about your medical history, lifestyle, and the type of pain you have. This gives them some idea of what could be the cause of your pain. Second, they will observe your posture and movement to check whether there are postural imbalances or habits that are potentially influencing your pelvic floor.
Second, the therapist will do an internal and/or external pelvic check-up. This will be somewhat uncomfortable, but needs to be done to find the areas of tension, weakness, or misalignment. Your therapist will take you through each step and make you feel relaxed throughout.
Once they have all the details, your therapist will guide you through relaxation of tightened muscles and strengthening where you are weak. You will likely be instructed in a set of exercises to do at home to be used in conjunction with the therapy you receive in the clinic. They may also give you guidance on posture, sitting, and ergonomics. This can reduce pressure on your tailbone between sessions.
By the end of the session, you will have a general understanding of what is happening to cause your pain and how the therapy will bring relief to your suffering.
Why Pelvic Floor Therapy Rather than Other Therapies?
The majority of people who suffer from tailbone pain treat it with surgery, over-the-counter pain relievers, or ice. All of these are temporary fixes and do not address the root causes of pain. Pelvic floor therapy for tailbone pain is a far more effective and long-term solution.
Unlike just covering up the pain, pelvic floor therapy treats the muscle imbalance, poor posture, and dysfunction in the pelvic area. Treating the cause of the pain, this therapy can provide sustained relief and prevent the pain from recurring.
Furthermore, pelvic floor treatment is not an operation and has no risks or hazards involved with surgery or the extended use of medication. It’s a natural, safe way to restore balance to your body and get you back to normal function without side effects or down time.
When to Refer Tailbone Pain to Pelvic Floor Therapy?
If your tailbone pain has been ongoing for weeks or months, and you’ve done everything and nothing’s working, it’s time to go see a pelvic floor therapist for tailbone pain. Especially if you’ve just had an injury, just given birth, or if your pain is making it difficult to sit, stand, or move.
Pelvic floor therapy may also be beneficial if other types of treatment—such as posture correction or medication—have not provided long-term relief. Therapy will assist you in identifying what is causing the pain and instruct you in the correct exercises and techniques to obtain long-term relief.
In a nutshell, the first step toward getting back to your comfort and mobility is to visit a trained therapist.
Getting Started: Pelvic Floor Therapy How to Begin?
It is simple to start pelvic floor therapy. First, make an appointment with a professional at Physio Logic in Brooklyn who will check your pelvic health and develop a treatment plan. During your appointment, the therapist will ask you questions about your symptoms, check you out, and teach you which exercises you will do.
In New York City, Physio Logic offers skilled pelvic floor therapy to individuals suffering from tailbone pain. They will guide you through the whole process so you can experience the relief you deserve and be comfortable with the healing process.
The Bottom Line
If you’ve been experiencing tailbone pain, pelvic floor therapy can provide the relief you’ve been seeking. By addressing the pelvic muscles, rebalancing, and improving posture, this therapy has long-lasting effects. Don’t let pain win. Feel better and get back to your comfort today.
FAQ
What causes tailbone pain?
Tailbone pain can result from trauma, poor posture, childbirth, or pelvic floor muscle dysfunction that pulls on or misaligns the coccyx.
Can pelvic floor therapy help with tailbone pain?
Yes. Pelvic floor therapy addresses the muscular imbalances and tension around the coccyx, often resolving chronic tailbone pain non-surgically.
What happens during pelvic floor therapy for tailbone pain?
Sessions may include gentle manual therapy, internal and external assessments, muscle relaxation, strengthening exercises, and posture coaching.
Is pelvic floor therapy painful?
While some parts may be mildly uncomfortable, pelvic floor therapy is not painful. Therapists work carefully to ensure your comfort.
Who should consider pelvic floor therapy for tailbone pain?
Anyone with persistent coccydynia (tailbone pain) lasting more than a few weeks, especially postpartum or post-trauma, should consider pelvic floor therapy.
How long does it take to feel relief?
Many patients begin to feel relief within a few sessions, though full recovery may require several weeks depending on the severity of symptoms.
