CONTACT US Tailbone pain, or coccydynia, is a condition that can affect anyone, yet it is often misunderstood or misdiagnosed. Many people assume that the discomfort is temporary or simply the result of sitting too long. However, tailbone pain can be persistent, disruptive, and sometimes linked to an underlying issue that often goes unrecognized: pelvic floor dysfunction. Pelvic floor dysfunction …
Causes of Testicular Pain and How Pelvic Floor Physical and Occupational Therapy Can Help
CONTACT US Testicular pain is a common but often misunderstood issue that can affect men of all ages. While occasional discomfort may be minor, persistent or recurring pain can significantly impact daily life, sexual function, and overall well-being. Men experiencing this type of pain often feel uncertain about its cause, which can increase stress and anxiety. Understanding the potential causes …
Managing Endometriosis and MCAS with Pelvic Floor Physical and Occupational Therapy: A Complex Relationship
Table of Contents . What is Female Pelvic Pain? . How Does Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Cause Female Pelvic Pain? . What are the Symptoms of Female Pelvic Pain? . What are the Causes of Female Pelvic Pain? . What is the Treatment for Female Pelvic Pain? . What Conditions are Commonly Linked to Pelvic Pain? . What are the Diagnostic …
Endometriosis and Pelvic Floor and Girdle Dysfunction: Understanding the Overlap
Table of Contents . What is Female Pelvic Pain? . How Does Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Cause Female Pelvic Pain? . What are the Symptoms of Female Pelvic Pain? . What are the Causes of Female Pelvic Pain? . What is the Treatment for Female Pelvic Pain? . What Conditions are Commonly Linked to Pelvic Pain? . What are the Diagnostic …
Preventing and Addressing Pelvic Floor Impairments During Perimenopause
By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, PHRC Pasadena I have worked in pelvic health since 2001, long enough to witness how certain conversations slowly—and sometimes painfully—enter mainstream medicine. I remember when leaders in our field began formally discussing menopause and introduced the term genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) around 2014. What I do not remember is meaningful discussion of perimenopause until …
Updates On Male Pelvic Pain aka CP/CPPS
Contact Us What is Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome? According to me (Stephanie Prendergast), these terms are outdated and not helpful for the management of the actual syndrome. The term “prostatitis” is misleading because roughly 97% of men with these symptoms do NOT have prostate pathology. The diagnosis “Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome” is problematic because the ‘chronic’ implies it will …
Top Pelvic Floor Symptoms Noticed in Perimenopause & Why They Happen
By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, PHRC Pasadena Perimenopause is a time of transition that affects nearly every system in the body—and the pelvic floor is no exception. While hot flashes and sleep disruption often dominate the conversation, many women experience pelvic floor symptoms that are just as disruptive, yet far less discussed. Inspired by the documentary series BALANCE: A Perimenopause Journey, …
BALANCE: A Perimenopause Journey: Why This Documentary Matters for Women’s Pelvic Health
BALANCE: A Perimenopause Journey — Why This Documentary Matters for Women’s Pelvic Health By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, PHRC Pasadena A new four-part documentary series, BALANCE: A Perimenopause Journey, is bringing long-overdue attention to one of the most misunderstood and under-recognized phases of women’s health: perimenopause. Premiering in early 2026, this powerful series explores the years leading up to menopause—years that …
Can Vibrator Use Improve Sexual and Bladder Function?
Emerging data from a trusted colleague says: OH YES! By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, PHRC Pasadena Vibrators—commercially available products traditionally associated with sexual pleasure—are showing meaningful therapeutic potential for women’s pelvic health. At a time when so many women struggle to access effective care for bladder pain, urinary leakage, pelvic organ prolapse symptoms, painful intercourse, loss of sexual pleasure, mood changes, …
Understanding Vulvodynia: How Pelvic Floor Physical and Occupational Therapy Offers Relief
Table of Contents . What is Female Pelvic Pain? . How Does Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Cause Female Pelvic Pain? . What are the Symptoms of Female Pelvic Pain? . What are the Causes of Female Pelvic Pain? . What is the Treatment for Female Pelvic Pain? . What Conditions are Commonly Linked to Pelvic Pain? . What are the Diagnostic …
One Big Beautiful Bill Act: The Impact on Pelvic Health PT/OT
One Big Beautiful Bill Act: The Impact on Pelvic Health Physical and Occupational Therapy By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, PHRC Pasadena In July 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) was signed into law, introducing transformative student-loan reform that will shape federal graduate borrowing for decades to come. Among its many sweeping policy changes, one stands out for the rehabilitation …
The Connection Between Restless Leg Syndrome and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, PHRC Pasadena Many people think of Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) as a sleep-related leg problem ; the irresistible need to move, the creeping sensations, the nights spent pacing instead of resting. But growing research and clinical observation suggest something much broader: RLS may be part of a whole-body sensory and motor dysregulation, with ties to bladder …
What Is Restless Leg Syndrome?
By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, PHRC Pasadena Have you ever felt an uncontrollable urge to move your legs when you’re trying to relax or fall asleep? If so, you may have experienced symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). This neurological condition affects millions of people, often disrupting sleep, causing distress, and sometimes connecting with other health issues, including pelvic floor …
Understanding Pelvic Floor Physical and Occupational Therapy: What You Should Know
Table of Contents . What is Female Pelvic Pain? . How Does Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Cause Female Pelvic Pain? . What are the Symptoms of Female Pelvic Pain? . What are the Causes of Female Pelvic Pain? . What is the Treatment for Female Pelvic Pain? . What Conditions are Commonly Linked to Pelvic Pain? . What are the Diagnostic …
Cost and Care: PHRC vs. In-Network Pelvic Floor Physical and Occupational Therapy
Table of Contents . What is Female Pelvic Pain? . How Does Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Cause Female Pelvic Pain? . What are the Symptoms of Female Pelvic Pain? . What are the Causes of Female Pelvic Pain? . What is the Treatment for Female Pelvic Pain? . What Conditions are Commonly Linked to Pelvic Pain? . What are the Diagnostic …
What & Why: The Pelvic Floor Basics from PHRC’s YouTube Channel
What & Why: The Pelvic Floor Basics from PHRC’s YouTube Channel The first video, Pelvic Floor Muscles 101, opens with a fundamental point: most people are unaware of their pelvic floor until it “goes wrong.” YouTube The pelvic floor is a sling-like group of muscles spanning the bottom of the pelvis, supporting pelvic organs (bladder, bowel, uterus/prostate), controlling continence, and …
Understanding Pudendal Neuralgia: How Pelvic Floor Physical and Occupational Therapy Offers Relief
Table of Contents . What is Female Pelvic Pain? . How Does Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Cause Female Pelvic Pain? . What are the Symptoms of Female Pelvic Pain? . What are the Causes of Female Pelvic Pain? . What is the Treatment for Female Pelvic Pain? . What Conditions are Commonly Linked to Pelvic Pain? . What are the Diagnostic …
We Need Your Help! The FDA is Accepting Comments about Menopause Until Sept 24.
Table of Contents . What is Female Pelvic Pain? . How Does Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Cause Female Pelvic Pain? . What are the Symptoms of Female Pelvic Pain? . What are the Causes of Female Pelvic Pain? . What is the Treatment for Female Pelvic Pain? . What Conditions are Commonly Linked to Pelvic Pain? . What are the Diagnostic …
Pain Science Education for Pelvic Pain: What the Research Really Says
By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, PHRC Pasadena Pain science education (PSE)—sometimes called pain neuroscience education—aims to help people understand what pain is, how it’s produced by the nervous system, and why it can persist even after tissues have healed. In chronic pelvic pain, where biological, psychological, and social factors often intertwine, that reconceptualization can be powerful: it can lower fear, boost …
Manual Therapy for Myofascial Pelvic Pain: Part 2
By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, PHRC Pasadena In our last blog post we summarized general benefits of manual therapy for myofascial pain. In this post, we are going to take a deeper dive and explore the benefits of manual therapy for myofascial pelvic pain syndromes. This will be a three part series, our next post examines the evidence behind Pain Science …
Manual Therapy for Myofascial Pain: Part 1
By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, PHRC Pasadena I’m honored to be speaking at PelviCon 2025, an outstanding event created by Nicole Cozean and Jessica Reale for clinicians passionate about pelvic health. Each speaker will be delivering two lectures, and one of mine is titled: “Pain Science Education vs. Manual Therapy: A Practitioner’s Dilemma.” Why is this a dilemma? Research consistently shows …