November 2, 2026

Can Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Contribute to Chronic Lower Back Pain?

Overview: An insightful article exploring the link between postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction and chronic lower back pain, detailing symptoms, diagnostic methods, non-surgical treatments, and empowering relief options for mothers.

Mothers, especially those who went through difficult deliveries, are prone to having pelvic floor dysfunction. While healthcare professionals have yet to determine why and how it develops, this condition may explain your postpartum low back pain and validate your struggles after childbirth.

Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

The symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction include frequent restroom visits, leaking urine or stool, and constipation. They often relate to the bowels because this condition occurs due to difficulty relaxing and coordinating pelvic floor muscles.

The pelvic floor supports the organs in your pelvis, such as your rectum, uterus, and bladder. That’s why any tension in this region can make moving your bowels more challenging.

Still, you may experience this dysfunction at other times. You may feel persistent pain between your abdomen and thighs when your pelvic floor muscles tighten up.

However, noticing these red flags isn’t enough to conclude that pelvic floor dysfunction is the culprit behind your lingering lower back pain. It can coexist with other conditions, and you may mistake it for other illnesses.

For example, irritable bowel syndrome is associated with chronic pelvic pain, while prostatitis can resemble pelvic floor dysfunction’s features. Constipation can be a side effect of a low-fiber diet, a sedentary lifestyle, pregnancy, or certain medications like antacids and pain relievers. Conditions affecting your anus and rectum can also mimic pelvic floor issues.

How Doctors Diagnose Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Diagnosing pelvic floor dysfunction is rarely straightforward. It simply shares similar symptoms with too many other medical conditions to rule out other possibilities with basic questions.

Naturally, your healthcare provider would ask about your medical history and symptoms. They would want to know how often you go to the bathroom, whether you’re able to empty your bladder, whether you don’t feel empty after a bowel movement, and whether you’re pushing to poop.

Your age may also be a factor. Among the over 24% of the American population dealing with chronic pain in recent years, older adults are particularly vulnerable to high-impact pain. If you’ve had prior pregnancies, your physician might ask about them to narrow down the possible conditions, especially since giving birth to a baby weighing more than 8.5 pounds increases your risk of developing pelvic floor dysfunction.

Afterward, your healthcare provider may check for knots, weakness, or spasms in your pelvic floor muscles, followed by a rectal exam. Females may undergo a gynecological exam, a routine check to investigate pelvic pain.

Moreover, your doctor may recommend more tests to confirm pelvic floor dysfunction. Anorectal manometry can help determine whether your pelvic floor muscles are malfunctioning. A defecography can show how your organs are working when you poop, which may reveal abnormalities when moving your bowels. Urodynamics demonstrates how well you can empty your bladder.

Ways to Treat Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Pelvic floor dysfunction is treatable without surgery, although some interventions are slightly invasive. Treatments focus on managing symptoms and empowering you to take action to find relief.

Pelvic floor physical therapy involves performing specific exercises to stretch your overly tense muscles and improve their coordination. It goes hand in hand with biofeedback, which uses sensors to monitor your pelvic floor muscles as you clench or relax them.

Yoga and meditation are practical relaxation techniques, especially when they encourage diaphragmatic breathing instead of shallow upper-chest breathing to promote a sense of calm. Acupuncture may also help release the tension in your pelvic area.

Your primary care provider might suggest that you see an interventional pain management specialist who can inject desensitizing medications into your tight muscles using a fine needle.

Raising the Ceiling to What You Can Do to Manage Pain

Experiencing lower back pain postpartum or later isn’t a fact of life. Nobody, not even yourself, should dismiss your struggles, especially since uncomfortable conditions like pelvic floor dysfunction are perfectly treatable. Seeking a qualified medical professional is key to diagnosing the root of your discomfort and receiving the essential interventions you deserve to live pain-free.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lola Marks is a Senior Editor at Body + Mind.

Cover image by Kindel Media