How are coccyx pain and the pelvic floor connected? Could your pelvic floor issues be the hidden culprit behind your coccyx pain?

Many treatments for coccyx pain target the tailbone directly, but understanding how pelvic floor function affects the coccyx may offer more effective relief. Tension in the pelvic floor muscles can either directly cause or exacerbate tailbone pain. This link is something that we common observe in our patients and we think it should be explored if tailbone pain isn’t improving.

Below we’ll discuss why this is a common connection that shouldn’t be ignored

Let’s start with the anatomy

The coccyx, or tailbone, is situated at the base of your spine, comprising 3-5 bones. These bones are typically fused together, which is why the coccyx is often referred to as a single bone. Your tailbone connects to the spine via the sacrococcygeal joint and attaches to the sacrum—the triangular bone between your hips—at this joint. Issues like restrictions or mobility problems at this joint are common causes of coccyx pain.

We commonly think of coccyx pain as something caused by a fall or certain postures that affect how well the coccyx moves.

However, the coccyx doesn’t lie in the pelvis all on its own. It is connected to many structures and serves as a crucial attachment site for lots of important pelvic muscles and ligaments, including the pelvic floor muscles.

What is the pelvic floor?

The pelvic floor is a dynamic network of muscles and connective tissues that form a sling-like structure at the base of the pelvis, supporting vital organs such as the bladder, uterus, and rectum. As part of the body’s core, it plays a crucial role in maintaining posture, controlling continence, and enabling functions like childbirth and sexual activity. The pelvic floor forms a support system that is highly flexible, adapting to everyday activities such as walking, sitting, lifting, and breathing to ensure proper organ function and stability.

Now that you know a bit about the anatomy, let’s discuss how the pelvic floor can affect the coccyx.

coccyx-pain-treat-the-pelvic-floor-constipation-issues-brisbane — **Coccyx pain can be made worse by tension in the pelvic floor. And tension in the pelvic floor can occur as a response to coccyx pain. Setting up a pain-tension cycle.**

How does the pelvic floor affect the coccyx?

When you contract your pelvic floor muscles, the sacrococcygeal joint flexes forward, moving the tip of your coccyx slightly toward your anus. Conversely, relaxing these muscles allows the joint to extend backward, moving the coccyx away from your anus. Restricted movement at this joint can affect how well the pelvic floor muscles work.

Tension in the pelvic floor muscles can be an issue for the coccyx because the pelvic floor muscles attach directly onto your coccyx. When these muscles are tight, they may pull on your tailbone placing strain on the sacrococcygeal joint and possibly affecting the position of your tailbone, which may contribute to pain.

A vicious cycle can begin, where the pelvic floor muscles tighten in response to tailbone pain, and tailbone pain increases in response to pelvic floor tension. This is seen in the research, which shows that women with coccyx pain often have pelvic floor issues. Just a note that coccyx pain is more common in women, but that doesn’t mean that men can’t be affected too!

Issues that affect pelvic floor tension such as constipation, incontinence issues and endometriosis may also contribute to coccyx pain.

What can you do?

If you feel your pelvic floor is either causing or contributing to your coccyx pain. Here are some tips that could help relieve your tailbone pain.

Practice diaphragmatic breathing . This is a great way to encourage length and relaxation of your pelvic floor muscles
Stretches and mobility exercises to create length in your pelvic floor muscles
Use self-release techniques to decrease tension in your pelvic floor
Develop stress management skills, to help relieve tension in the pelvic floor. Carrying tension in the pelvic floor in response to stress is very common, and bringing awareness to this part of your body may help with coccyx pain management.
See a practitioner trained in pelvic health who can assess and treat your pelvic floor. For more information on how osteopathy can help, check out this blog.

Could osteopathy help you manage your coccyx pain?

Pelvic floor tension can be a huge driver for coccyx pain. As osteopaths, we consider not just the pelvic floor but the entire body when treating coccyx pain, identifying any muscular or biomechanical strains that could impact your pelvic floor and coccyx function.

Most of our osteopaths have completed additional training in the assessment and treatment of coccyx pain and pelvic floor issues. We can treat the coccyx with external hands-on techniques and have additional training in internal treatment techniques via the vagina and rectum (these treatments are optional and entirely your choice). We can also assist with lifestyle management and exercises for longer term management of coccyx issues.

We are passionate about helping you reduce or completely heal your coccyx pain.

If you’d like to try some hands-on manual therapy, book to see one our Osteopaths. Coccyx pain is one of our passions.

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