By Dr. Allison Feldt, PT, DPT
5 min read
In March, I spent a Sunday doing two back-to-back workshops. One was at Pure Barre, where I talked about Pelvic Floor Foundations: Prevent Injury and Move With Confidence. Then I headed straight to The Pilates Hub to talk about birth preparation and how women can support their bodies for a smoother, safer delivery.
Two different audiences. Two different conversations. But the same mission is behind both.
Education.
Because the truth is women have been suffering in silence for far too long.
So many women are told these things are normal after having babies, part of aging, or just something to live with:
They are often dismissed, overlooked, or quietly endured out of embarrassment. But they are not normal. They are signals from the body that something needs support.
For decades the solutions offered rarely addressed the root cause. When I started Body Motion Physical Therapy in 2017, the standard approach to pelvic health issues typically looked like this:
While some of these can help certain people, many women were still left with the same unanswered question: Why is this happening in the first place?
There was very little focus on understanding the root cause or preventing the issue before it began. The result was women living with these issues for years, sometimes decades.
We are living in a generation that is more focused on longevity and strength than ever before. Women in their 40s, 50s, and 60s are lifting weights, doing barre, running marathons, and prioritizing their health in ways previous generations never did. We no longer see 50 as a little old lady. These are women who are vibrant, active, and committed to aging well.
At the same time, we are seeing women invest heavily in beauty and aesthetics. Skincare, treatments, and procedures have become part of how many women take care of themselves because they want to look and feel their best as they age.
But there is a disconnect.
Many of those same women are also dealing with chronic back pain, leaking when they try to exercise, pressure through their core, or avoiding certain workouts because something does not feel right. They are trying to stay strong and active, but their foundation is not being supported.
If we truly want to improve our experience with aging, we have to tip the scales. We cannot only focus on how our bodies look. We also have to focus on how they function.
Longevity is not just about living longer. It is about being able to move confidently, stay active, exercise without fear, pick up your grandkids, travel, and fully enjoy the life you have built. Pelvic floor health plays a huge role in that experience.
On Wednesday I received an email from a woman who watches my YouTube channel. She wrote:
“I’ve been suffering with undiagnosed issues for the past 13 years. I watched your YouTube video where you described my symptoms to a T. I thought I was looking in a mirror. I’ve had a spinal stimulator, numerous nerve blocks, been to neurologists, chiropractors, physical therapists, physiotherapists, urogynecologists, pelvic floor therapy etc. Everyone can tell me what it’s not but I know I am 99.9% sure this is what I have. One neurologist said it was in my head and I looked at him and said no, it’s in my vagina. I can’t sit. I can’t vacuum. I can’t pick up my great grandbaby without extreme pain. I’ve been staying home.”
She is 78 years old. She has been living with this pain for 13 years. That is 4,745 days.
4,745 days of missed moments. Missed memories. Missed time with family. 4,745 days spent searching for answers — being told it was nothing, being told it was in her head.
Stories like this are far more common than they should be.
For every woman who finally gets answers, there are countless others who are still silently struggling. That is why I am so passionate about educating the community.
When one woman understands pelvic floor health, she does not just help herself. She becomes a resource for a friend, sister, coworker, cousin, or daughter. She becomes the person who says, “Actually, there might be help for that.” Sometimes that one conversation can save someone years of suffering.
What excites me most about the work we are doing now is that we are finally shifting the conversation from reaction to prevention. Instead of waiting until symptoms become severe, we can help women:
Pelvic health should not only become a priority after something goes wrong. It should be part of how women learn to care for their bodies in the first place.
Every workshop. Every talk. Every video. Every patient. They are all part of something bigger — a shift in how women’s health is understood, talked about, and supported.
The more we normalize conversations about pelvic health, the fewer women will spend years searching for answers. That is a mission worth showing up for every single day.
About the author
Allison is a pelvic floor physical therapist and the founder of Body Motion PT in Edmonds. A mom who knows the aftermath of pregnancy and birth firsthand, she's on a mission to help women restore their core and pelvic floor at every stage of life.
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