Success Stories: Real Results from Pelvic Floor Therapy at Key Tex PT
Emily: “I Was Strong... But My Body Kept Compensating”
Emily, 38, was a CrossFit athlete and busy professional. She had never experienced leakage, prolapse, or pelvic pain — so pelvic floor therapy was never on her radar. She considered herself strong and resilient.
But over time, she noticed recurring SI joint irritation, lingering hamstring tightness, and a feeling of core instability during heavy lifts. She rotated through mobility drills, massage, and traditional PT with only short-term relief.
“I didn’t have bladder issues or pregnancy history, so I assumed my pelvic floor couldn’t be part of the problem,” she said. “I thought I just needed more core work.”
Read More About Emily's Challenges and Treatment
Her main challenges included:
Recurring SI joint irritation during and after workouts
Persistent hamstring tightness that never fully resolved
A sense of core instability during heavy lifts
Short-term relief from mobility work, massage, and traditional PT
She had already addressed many traditional strength and mobility factors, but her symptoms continued to return.
During her comprehensive evaluation, we discovered that Emily’s pelvic floor wasn’t weak in the way she expected — it was overactive and under-coordinated. In addition, her hamstring tightness was not hamstring tightness at all, but rather nerve irritation in her lower back.
Many of her symptoms stemmed from:
Inefficient breathing strategies under load
Poor management of intra-abdominal pressure
Excessive pelvic floor tension
Suboptimal load transfer through the pelvis and trunk
Nerve tension in the low back
In other words, her pelvic floor was working overtime to stabilize what her core system wasn’t managing efficiently.
Her plan focused on restoring coordination before strength, including:
Learning ways to "stop picking the scab" and gave her back the chance to heal
Pelvic floor down-training
Re-learning breathing and bracing strategies for both lighter and heavier lifts
Corrective exercises to improve postural control
Improving core–pelvic floor coordination and timing
As her system relearned how to manage pressure and load effectively, strain on her hips and spine decreased — and for the first time in years, her strength gains felt sustainable, not compensatory.
Sarah: "My Hips Were Always Tight — Stretching Never Helped"
Sarah, 32, was an avid runner and strength athlete who assumed her pelvic floor was functioning well because she had never experienced leakage or pregnancy. But despite consistent training and mobility work, she felt stuck.
Read More About Sarah's Challenges and Treatment
Her main challenges included:
Constant hip flexor tightness, no matter how much she stretched
Deep groin pain and aching after runs
Difficulty feeling her glutes activate during squats
Rarely feeling her glutes during bridges or deadlifts
She had already worked with an orthopedic physical therapist and addressed many traditional strength and mobility factors, but her symptoms persisted.
During her comprehensive evaluation, we discovered that Sarah’s pelvic floor wasn’t weak in the way she expected - it was overactive and under-coordinated.
Many of her symptoms stemmed from:
Inefficient breathing strategies during lifts
Poor management of intra-abdominal pressure
Excessive pelvic floor tension
Excessive hip range of motion without adequate control
In other words, her pelvic floor was working overtime to stabilize what her core system wasn’t managing efficiently.
Her plan focused on restoring coordination before strength, including:
Pelvic floor down-training
Re-learning breathing and bracing strategies for both lighter and heavier lifts
Corrective exercises for postural control
Improving core–pelvic floor coordination
As her system relearned how to manage pressure and load appropriately, her body responded quickly.
Megan: "I had struggled with pelvic pain for years."
Megan, 29, was an active professional who had been dealing with pelvic pain for years. She had pain with intercourse, discomfort with tampon use, and a constant sense of pelvic tension. Imaging and exams had come back “normal,” and she was often told stress or anxiety might be playing a role.
She stayed active, stretched regularly, and even avoided certain movements, but her symptoms never fully resolved.
Read More About Megan's Challenges and Treatment
Her main challenges included:
Pain with penetrative activities, including intercourse and tampon use
A constant feeling of pelvic tension or guarding
Deep pelvic and groin discomfort that worsened with prolonged sitting
Low back and hip tightness that never fully eased
She had tried traditional stretching, relaxation techniques, and general core strengthening, but her pain persisted.
Many of her symptoms stemmed from:
Chronic pelvic floor overactivity and protective guarding
Inefficient breathing patterns and poor pressure management
Limited pelvic floor mobility
Difficulty coordinating relaxation and activation during daily movement
In other words, her pelvic floor was constantly “on,” working to protect perceived threat rather than supporting efficient movement.
Her plan focused on restoring safety, mobility, and coordination before strength, including:
Pelvic floor down-training and relaxation strategies
Breathing techniques to reduce guarding and normalize pressure
Gentle mobility work for the hips, spine, and pelvic floor
Re-training core–pelvic floor coordination for daily activities
As her nervous system calmed and her pelvic floor regained mobility and coordination, her pain began to decrease — not because we forced strength, but because we addressed the root cause of her symptoms.
Laura: "I had seen 2 other pelvic floor PT's prior to working with Dr. Keeley. I was able to get back into the gym, all while avoiding surgery."
Laura, 46, was an active professional and mom who began noticing a feeling of pelvic pressure and heaviness, especially after long days on her feet or during workouts. She was eventually diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse and told that surgery might be the next step if her symptoms progressed.
While she didn’t have significant pain, the constant heaviness made her feel cautious and disconnected from her body. She began avoiding impact, lifting, and exercise out of fear of “making it worse.”
Read More About Laura's Challenges and Treatment
Her main challenges included:
Pelvic pressure and heaviness, especially by the end of the day
A bulging or “falling” sensation during prolonged standing or exercise
Fear of worsening her prolapse with movement or lifting
Reduced confidence returning to workouts and daily activity
She had been advised to limit activity and “monitor symptoms,” but she wanted a proactive option before considering surgery.
During her comprehensive evaluation, we discovered that Laura’s prolapse symptoms were not simply about weakness — they were driven by poor pressure management, limited pelvic floor coordination, and inefficient load transfer.
Many of her symptoms stemmed from:
Inefficient breathing and bracing strategies
Poor management of intra-abdominal pressure
Delayed or inconsistent pelvic floor response to load
Reduced support from surrounding hip and core musculature
Her plan focused on restoring coordination before strength, including:
Education on prolapse mechanics and symptom-guided loading
Re-training breathing and pressure management strategies, including healthy bowel and bladder habits
Improving pelvic floor timing and coordination with movement
Gradual return to strength training with appropriate modifications
Building confidence with safe, progressive loading
As Laura learned how to move and load her body more efficiently, her symptoms became more manageable. She returned to exercise with confidence, reduced pelvic heaviness, and a clear plan forward — without surgery.
Subscribe to Newsletter
We believe healing continues beyond your visits. That’s why we share regular updates, tips, and resources through our KeyTex PT Newsletter.
Subscribing keeps you connected to tools, strategies, and ongoing support — so you always know you’re not in this alone.
Connect with us
© Copyright 2026. KeyTex Physical Therapy. All rights reserved.
Instagram