Pelvic floor dysfunction affects millions across the U.S., yet many people remain undiagnosed for years due to limited awareness and access to treatment.
Reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Cross licensed occupational therapist specializing in pelvic floor therapy and cancer rehabilitation at Renown.
At Renown, we’re expanding access to this important care area with the addition of a new therapist specializing in pelvic floor therapy on our Outpatient Therapy team.
Outpatient therapy refers to rehabilitation and therapeutic services provided in a clinical setting without an overnight hospital stay. Outpatient therapists work closely with patients to support recovery, manage pain and improve function, all with the goal of helping people move, feel, and live better. Here’s what you should know about how it works and who can benefit from it.
What Is Pelvic Floor Therapy?
Pelvic floor therapy focuses on the muscles at the base of the pelvis that support bladder, bowel, and reproductive function, while also helping keep posture and core stable.
When the pelvic floor muscles are too tight, too weak, or not working in sync, it can lead to uncomfortable or even disruptive symptoms. A pelvic floor therapist uses targeted exercises, manual therapy and patient education to help restore muscle function and relieve symptoms.
Pelvic Floor Therapy – How to Get Started
If you have pelvic pain, pressure, or discomfort, we’re here to help with safe, supportive care in a private setting.
Referral Required – Ask your provider for a referral before scheduling your appointment.
What the Referral Should Include:
“Pelvic floor occupational therapy”
Symptoms (e.g., frequent urination)
Duration of symptoms
Who Can Send a Referral:
Primary care
Gastroenterology
Urology
Gynecology
Oncology
Any licensed healthcare provider
Who Can Pelvic Floor Therapy Help?
Pelvic floor therapy is often associated with postpartum recovery, but it’s not just for women. People of all ages and genders may benefit from this type of therapy if they’re experiencing any of the following symptoms:
Urinary incontinence or frequent urination
Chronic pelvic pain or pressure
Constipation or bowel dysfunction
Pain during or after intercourse
Pelvic organs prolapse (a feeling of pressure or heaviness in the pelvic area)
Recovery from pelvic or abdominal surgery
Postpartum pelvic floor weakness
Why It Matters
Pelvic floor issues can impact not just physical health but emotional well-being and quality of life. Many people live with discomfort or frustration for years without realizing that help is available.
Meet Our New Therapist
We’re proud to welcome Jennifer Cross, a licensed occupational therapist specializing in pelvic floor therapy and cancer rehabilitation, to the Renown Outpatient Therapy team. Jennifer has over 17 years of experience in treating complex pelvic floor dysfunction. She completed advanced pelvic floor training through the Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute and has expertise in cancer rehabilitation through the physiological Oncology Rehabilitation Institute.
Injuries. Pain. Loss of speech or voice. Trauma. Muscle weakness. For the average person, these issues are often thought of as setbacks – and when you experience these setbacks, basic tasks of daily life can become a struggle.
Think of it this way: what if you could no longer pick something up off the floor without intense back pain? What if your joints start getting stiff and you can’t move your knees the same way? What if you suffer a brain injury and need to re-learn how to swallow?
All of these hypothetical situations can happen to anyone. But at Renown Health, there is one team dedicated to intervening at the right time, in the right place.
That team is Renown's Outpatient Rehabilitation Therapy department, where setbacks become breakthroughs.
Department Spotlight: Inpatient Rehab Hospital Therapy
Take a moment to think about your favorite hobby. Perhaps you enjoy going for walks or runs. Maybe you prefer painting or singing. Or you might like playing video games or doing jigsaw puzzles. Whatever hobby you love surely brings joy to your life, right?
Now, imagine you suffered a stroke, a traumatic brain injury, a broken hip, a limb amputation or another physical health obstacle. You notice that it is more difficult to participate in your favorite pastimes. And beyond that, even the activities of daily living are now a struggle – getting dressed, taking a shower, brushing your teeth, the list goes on.
But guess what? There is a care team whose sole purpose is to help you regain the independence and confidence you need to embrace your life once again and return to a sense of normalcy.
Meet the Inpatient Rehab Hospital Therapy (RRH Therapy) department at Renown Rehabilitation Hospital. Whether it’s helping a patient learn to walk again or showing them how they can cook and clean in a new and accessible way, these tenacious rehab therapy technicians, occupational therapists (OT), physical therapists (PT), recreation therapy specialists, speech language pathologists and OT/PT assistants will stop at nothing to ensure their patients stay on the road to recovery.
A New Therapy Garden: Enhancing Recovery at Renown Rehabilitation Hospital
Last fall, Renown Rehabilitation Hospital unveiled the Rehabilitation Therapy Garden, supported by the Estelle J. Kelsey Foundation, a space designed to support rehabilitation patients on their path to recovery. Made possible through the generosity of donors, this innovative garden provides therapeutic tools to help individuals regain independence and improve their quality of life.
"If a patient is recovering from a spinal cord injury, stroke, or brain injury, they might face challenges like stairs, ramps, and uneven surfaces for the first time. Without training, these obstacles can be hard to navigate. The Rehabilitation Therapy Garden gives patients and their families the chance to practice and gain the skills they need to move confidently in the community and become more independent,” said Shawn Morris, Renown Rehabilitation Hospital Director of Rehab Operations.
One of the garden’s highlights is a wheelchair course with ramps of varying difficulty, allowing patients to practice navigating different terrains. This hands-on therapy is essential for those recovering from strokes, brain injuries, orthopedic injuries, or trauma. It builds strength, mobility, and confidence by simulating real-world challenges in a safe and supportive environment. “The garden is great, it’s all set up to practice things like stairs and ramps, plus it’s nice to look at,” said a patient at Renown Rehabilitation Hospital.
