If you're a female CrossFit athlete dealing with common issues that are not so fun to talk about: leakage, pain with sex, pelvic pressure with lifting - let me just say that I see you. As a physical therapist who works with female CrossFit athletes, specifically dealing with issues of pelvic dysfunction, I'm here to tell you that you don't have to "just live with it."
With all that being said, I've had ladies ask me what makes coming to me for care different than going to any other therapist. In this post, we're going to break down exactly how I do my assessments and why choosing to work with me is a must.
But in case you were wondering if pelvic physical therapy is right for you, read the blog post here.
Let's Chat
When you choose to work with me, the first thing that we do is sit down and talk about your experience. I’ll ask questions like:
When do you notice your symptoms?
Are there certain movements, like squats or box jumps, that bring them on?
What are your goals in the gym?
We’ll also cover things like your medical history, stress levels, sleep, and nutrition, since these can impact pelvic health too. This gives me the big picture of what’s going on so I can help you as a whole athlete, and not just focus on symptoms.
Movement Assessment
Next, I take a look at your posture and how you are moving in a relaxed state. This gives me an idea of any tension that I should take note of. I also spend time looking at how you move through exercises.
When you’re standing still, is your pelvis in a neutral position?
During movements like squats, deadlifts, or pull-ups, are there compensations or patterns that could be putting extra strain on your core or pelvic floor?
This helps me pinpoint where things might be breaking down and why.
Breathing as a Foundation
Breathing might not sound like a big deal, but it’s huge for pelvic health. You can learn more about why in the blog post here.
I’ll have you take some deep breaths while standing, lying down, or even during a squat to see how well your diaphragm, core, and pelvic floor are working together.
I’m looking for things like:
Do your ribs expand when you breathe in?
Can you activate your core and pelvic floor properly when you breathe out?
These details are key because how you manage pressure in your core affects your pelvic floor—especially during heavy lifts or explosive movements.
The Pelvic Floor and More
If you’re comfortable with it, I’ll do a pelvic floor muscle exam to check:
How strong your muscles are
If there’s tightness or tension
Whether you can relax and contract those muscles effectively
Typically I focus on external examination of these muscles by watching how your pelvic floor responds to different exercises. It's also important to mention that I will observe the strength and coordination of your hips, low back, and core musculature since they are all tied so closely together.
CrossFit Specific Movements
Lastly, we bring it full circle. As a CrossFit athlete, it's important that we take into consideration the high power movements you're completing in the gym and how they may be contributing to your dysfunction. I will have you go through movements like box jumps, cleans, or double-unders and observe how your core and pelvic floor handle the load.
This information helps us figure out what’s working, what’s not, and where to focus in your treatment plan so that you can get back to pushing toward your fitness goals.
Learn more about the importance of pelvic health in female CrossFit athletes in the blog post here.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, when you work with me, I am constantly assessing your movement each and every session. This breakdown of the initial assessment though, gives us a good starting point. From here, we can work together to create a plan that works for you, your symptoms, and your fitness goals.
So, what are you waiting for? If you or someone you know is struggling with pelvic health issues like peeing your pants, pelvic pain, or pelvic heaviness during workouts or just everyday activities, reach out! We can create a plan that supports your goals in the gym while keeping the pelvic floor front and center.
Comments