What Is Pelvic Floor OT And How’s It Different From PT?

Let’s start with the obvious: pelvic health is deeply personal.

Whether you’re dealing with leaking, prolapse, constipation, painful sex, or recovering from birth or surgery what’s happening in your pelvis can affect everything. Your physical comfort, emotional well-being, confidence, energy, even your relationships.

And if you’ve found your way here, chances are you’ve already googled your symptoms (maybe at midnight), talked to a few friends or providers, or maybe even tried a few things that didn’t quite help.

You might’ve heard about pelvic floor physical therapy and then stumbled across pelvic floor occupational therapy and thought, “Wait…what’s the difference?”

Let me walk you through it.

What Is Pelvic Floor OT?

Occupational therapy is all about helping people participate in the things that matter most in their daily lives. In pelvic health, that means we’re not just treating your muscles or checking boxes on a protocol—we’re looking at your whole picture.

How are your symptoms showing up in your life?

• Are you avoiding outings because you’re afraid of leaking?

• Are you rushing through intimacy or avoiding it altogether because of pain?

• Are you skipping workouts, dreading car rides, feeling exhausted, or disconnected from your body?

Pelvic floor occupational therapy (OT) zooms out. We look at function and nervous system health alongside physical symptoms. We ask:

“What would it feel like to feel strong, calm, and connected again?”

“How can we make healing feel like something you actually want to do—not just another thing on your plate?”

So… What’s the Difference Between OT and PT?

This is where it gets nuanced. Both pelvic floor physical therapists and pelvic floor occupational therapists can:

✔ Assess pelvic floor muscles

✔ Offer internal and external treatment

✔ Help with bladder, bowel, and sexual function

✔ Treat pain and support postpartum recovery

✔ Create customized plans of care

We’re trained differently but have overlapping scopes and in reality, a lot of what we do looks very similar. The difference is often in the lens we use and how we approach the work.

Here’s how pelvic floor OT stands out:

1. Function over fitness

We don’t just want you to be able to contract a muscle . we want to know what that muscle means in your life. Can you pick up your toddler without pain? Sleep through the night without rushing to the bathroom? Laugh freely with your friends again? That’s our north star.

2. Nervous system awareness

Your pelvic floor doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It responds to stress, trauma, and your environment. We prioritize emotional safety, breathwork, and regulation techniques that help your body feel safe enough to heal.

3. Trauma-informed, whole-person care

Many people carry complex emotions, histories, and experiences in their pelvic region. We’re trained to recognize this and walk alongside you gently. If you’ve ever felt dismissed, brushed off, or unsure in a past medical experience you are safe here.

4. Daily life integration

Instead of a long list of exercises you have to squeeze into your already-full schedule, we focus on micro-shifts that fit into your routines. Think: how you breathe while nursing your baby, how you sit at work, how you lift groceries or rest at night. Small, sustainable changes make big waves.

What It Looks Like at Prana Pelvic Health

Here’s what you can expect when you work with me at Prana:

• Full-hour, one-on-one sessions where you’re heard, seen, and supported the whole way.

• A calm, grounding space where your nervous system can finally exhale.

• Movement, breathwork, education, and hands-on treatment tailored to your body and goals.

• A provider who will meet you where you are no pressure, no judgment, no “shoulds.”

You don’t have to power through. You don’t have to figure it out alone. And you definitely don’t have to settle for care that doesn’t feel aligned.

The Bottom Line?

If your body has been whispering (or shouting) for help, and you’re looking for care that honors your full self, body, mind, and nervous system pelvic floor OT might be the missing piece.

Let’s get you feeling strong, grounded, and back to doing what you love.

You deserve care that fits you.

Curious if pelvic floor OT is the right fit for you?

I’d love to connect. Visit www.pranapelvichealth.com to learn more or book a free consult. 💛

With care,

Katie Beach MOT, OTR/L

Founder, Prana Pelvic Health and Wellness