Originally published on June 16, 2024 by Vital Physiotherapy & Wellness, now part of the Bravella Health network. Original author: Vital Staff.
We’ve all been there. Suddenly you have the urge to pee RIGHT NOW. And it happens often, and when you go, it burns or hurts! For many women, our first thought is “great, another UTI.” While UTIs are a common challenge, did you know that these symptoms can also be caused by your pelvic floor muscles?[1]
If you find yourself having UTI symptoms and yet you’re coming back negative on UTI testing, we have good news! Pelvic floor physiotherapy can help![1,4]
Your pelvic floor muscles sit like a basket at the bottom of your pelvis, connecting your tailbone to your pubic bone and support your vaginal canal, rectal canal, and your urethra. These muscles control your bladder and bowel function,[2] so if there are any issues with your pelvic floor muscles, this can cause pain around your urethra and bladder, which can mimic UTI symptoms![1,3]
Dealing with tight or overactive muscles is a big part of what we do here at Vital Physiotherapy! If you are experiencing chronic pelvic or bladder pain, urinary frequency, or other UTI symptoms without an active infection, book an assessment to find out how we can help you change your life!
References
- Clemens JQ, Erickson DR, Varela NP, Lai HH. Diagnosis and treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome. J Urol. 2022;208(1):34-42. doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000002756
- Bordoni B, Sugumar K, Leslie SW. Anatomy, abdomen and pelvis: pelvic floor. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2026. Updated May 13, 2026. Accessed September 24, 2026. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482200/
- Frawley H, Shelly B, Morin M, et al. An International Continence Society (ICS) report on the terminology for pelvic floor muscle assessment. Neurourol Urodyn. 2021;40(5):1217-1260. doi:10.1002/nau.24658
- FitzGerald MP, Payne CK, Lukacz ES, et al. Randomized multicenter clinical trial of myofascial physical therapy in women with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome and pelvic floor tenderness. J Urol. 2012;187(6):2113-2118. doi:10.1016/j.juro.2012.01.123
