Pelvic Therapy Before & After Surgery

People describe these concerns in many different ways. You may notice:

• A planned prostate, bladder, bowel, gynecologic, abdominal, endometriosis, prolapse, hernia, or gender-affirming procedure

• Urinary or bowel changes before or after surgery

• Abdominal, pelvic, perineal, or scar pain and sensitivity

• Difficulty with posture, breathing, rolling, standing, lifting, or returning to exercise

• Weakness, pressure, guarding, or reduced pelvic floor coordination

• Questions about returning to work, caregiving, exercise, or sexual activity

You do not need to match every item on this list or arrive with a diagnosis. Symptoms can have more than one cause, and part of the first visit is deciding what pelvic therapy can reasonably address.

Before surgery, therapy may establish a baseline, teach breathing and movement strategies, review pelvic floor coordination, and prepare a practical early-recovery plan. After medical clearance, care may include scar mobility, gradual strength and endurance, bladder and bowel support, pelvic floor retraining, desensitization, positioning, and return to meaningful activity. We follow surgeon restrictions and refer back for wound concerns, fever, new swelling, unexpected bleeding, acute urinary retention, or rapidly worsening pain. For gender-affirming procedures, care is anatomy- and goal-specific, respects the language you use for your body, and may coordinate with the surgical team.

A pre-surgical visit reviews the planned procedure, current symptoms, movement, breathing, bladder/bowel function, and home demands. A post-surgical visit includes the operative timeline, restrictions, healing status, medication and symptoms. Assessment is paced to healing and may remain entirely external. Internal assessment is considered only when medically appropriate, useful, and explicitly consented to.

People preparing for or recovering from prostatectomy, hysterectomy, prolapse repair, bladder or colorectal surgery, endometriosis surgery, cesarean birth, abdominoplasty, hernia repair, or gender-affirming top or bottom surgery may benefit. Suitability and timing depend on the procedure and surgeon guidance.

How soon after surgery can I come?

It depends on the procedure, healing, symptoms, and surgeon restrictions. Early care may be limited to education, breathing, positioning, and gentle movement. Confirm timing with your surgical team.

Is therapy useful before surgery?

A preoperative visit can establish a baseline and teach strategies for early recovery, bladder/bowel management, and movement. It cannot prevent every complication or guarantee an outcome.

Can you work directly on a scar?

Scar treatment begins only when the incision is appropriately healed and medically safe. Techniques are individualized and should never be forced.

Do you provide gender-affirming surgical care?

Yes, when pelvic therapy is appropriate to the person’s procedure, anatomy, symptoms, and goals. The practice welcomes LGBTQ+ patients and provides private, respectful, consent-based care.

Men’s Pelvic Health — for prostatectomy and male pelvic surgical recovery.

Postpartum Recovery — for cesarean scar and postpartum function.

Pelvic Pain — for persistent pain, sensitivity, or guarding.

Urinary Leakage & Urgency — for bladder symptoms before or after surgery.

If you have a surgery date or are recovering and unsure what is safe, contact us. We can help determine whether a preoperative or postoperative visit is appropriate and coordinate with your medical restrictions.

Sanford Pelvic Therapy and Wellness provides one-on-one pelvic therapy in Sanford and DeLand. The practice is cash-pay, accepts FSA/HSA funds, and provides superbills that patients may submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Benefits vary by plan.

Sanford Pelvic Therapy and Wellness provides one-on-one pelvic therapy in Sanford and DeLand. The practice is cash-pay, accepts FSA/HSA funds, and provides superbills that patients may submit for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Benefits vary by plan.