In an effort to broaden my sexuality and intimacy focused practice skills and offerings, I’m beginning to explore pelvic health occupational therapy. Starting with the OT Pioneers training course through The Functional Pelvis, I’m eager to learn more about this practice area from a much needed OT lens!

Physical therapists are usually the first profession to be associated with pelvic floor therapy. However, occupational therapists can also be pelvic floor therapists along with other licensed rehabilitation practitioners.

Why focus on pelvic health? The pelvic floor muscles can have injury, weakness, or dysfunction just like any other muscle in the body but doesn’t get as much attention in the therapy world because of the taboo nature of things down there. Bowel and bladder incontinence, constipation, pain with intercourse, anorgasmia, hip and back pain, pressure or bloating, pelvic organ prolapse, and more can be from issues with the pelvic floor. By proxy, sexual health and intimacy, participation in day to day activities, life roles, daily routines etc may also be impacted as a result. The latter of which is the added benefit of an occupational therapist addressing pelvic health because that means that more than just the physical symptoms are considered in evaluations and plans of care!

I’m so looking forward to having this information in my tool belt to better serve my clients of all genders and stages in life because we all have a pelvic floor that needs a little extra TLC from time to time!