Can My Hip Pain Be From Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?
When you think of pelvic floor dysfunction, what comes to mind? Peeing your pants. Postpartum recovery. Running to the bathroom all the time. Heaviness or a bulge sensation.
But here’s something that surprises a lot of people: pelvic floor dysfunction can also cause hip pain.
In fact, I’ve had several women in the Pewaukee area come into the clinic with only hip pain. No leaking. No urgency. No constipation. None of the typical pelvic floor symptoms. Yet when we evaluated their pelvic floor muscles, that’s exactly where the problem was coming from.
So how does that happen? Let’s break it down.
The Pelvic Floor and Hip Connection
Your pelvic floor and hip muscles are more connected than most people realize. They are essentially neighbors that share a lot of responsibility.
Here are a few of the biggest ways they are linked:
- Two of your deep hip muscles also form part of the pelvic floor. Some muscles literally do double duty.
- The pelvic floor stabilizes your hips, pelvis, and low back. Your hip muscles have the same job. If one group is not pulling its weight, the other takes over and becomes overworked.
- Your hip muscles influence pelvic position. If your pelvis is not positioned well, your pelvic floor cannot function efficiently.
Think of it like a team. When one player is off, the entire system compensates.
Symptoms of Hip Pain Caused By Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
So what does hip pain from pelvic floor dysfunction actually feel like?
It often shows up in these areas:
- Deep lower glute pain
- Outer hip pain
- SI joint pain
You may or may not also have traditional pelvic floor symptoms like:
- Leaking
- Urinary urgency or frequency
- Constipation
- Feeling like you are not fully emptying
- Pain with intercourse or pelvic exams
And sometimes, there are no other symptoms at all.
Is My Hip Pain Coming From My Pelvic Floor?
If you already have pelvic floor symptoms, it is much more likely that your pelvic floor is involved.
But what if you do not have any of those symptoms?
This is where things get tricky. If you are doing all the “right” things like strengthening, stretching, and getting manual work for your hips but you are not improving, or you have hit a plateau, it is time to look deeper.
Many women I see in Pewaukee have already tried great physical therapy and stayed consistent with their exercises, but their hip pain never fully resolved until we addressed the pelvic floor.
The only way to know for sure is through a pelvic floor evaluation, which may include an internal exam to assess muscle tension.
Pelvic Floor Treatment to Resolve Hip Pain
Relaxation Exercises
When pelvic floor dysfunction causes hip pain, it is usually a tension issue, not a weakness issue.
That means the goal is not always more strengthening. Instead, we help the pelvic floor learn how to relax.
Here are 2 of my favorite exercises to address pelvic floor tension.
Adding deep breathing will make these even more effective.
Manual Work
Manual therapy for the pelvic floor can be incredibly powerful. Just like tight shoulders or calves, pelvic floor muscles can be treated directly.
This is often the missing piece that finally allows stubborn hip pain to resolve.
We may also treat nearby hip muscles with techniques like dry needling or cupping.
Solve Your Hip Pain by Addressing Your Pelvic Floor
If your hip pain is not improving despite doing everything “right,” it may be time to look at a place most people overlook: your pelvic floor.
Sometimes the key to solving hip pain is not doing more hip exercises. It is addressing the muscles working behind the scenes.
You do not have to keep guessing.
If you are in Pewaukee and wondering if pelvic floor dysfunction is the cause of your hip pain, reach out. We will help you figure out what is really going on so you can get back to moving comfortably.
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