Postpartum Recovery and Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Columbia, SC: Why Kegels Might Not Be Enough

If you’ve been told to “just do Kegels” after pregnancy, you’re not alone—and you’re not getting the full picture.

At Vertex PT Specialists, we provide women’s health physical therapy in Columbia, SC that goes beyond outdated advice. Our pelvic floor physical therapist, Dr. Katie Bailey, PT, DPT, helps women recover their strength, confidence, and control through a personalized approach to postpartum recovery that actually works.

What Is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy is a specialized form of treatment that addresses the muscles, nerves, and tissues that support your pelvic organs. These structures can become dysfunctional due to pregnancy, childbirth, surgery, aging, or injury.

Common symptoms include:

• Urinary leakage or urgency
• Pelvic pain or pressure
• Diastasis recti
• Pain during sex
• Difficulty returning to exercise
• Core weakness or instability

Why Kegels Aren’t Always the Answer

While Kegels have become the go-to recommendation for pelvic floor issues, they aren’t the solution for everyone. Many postpartum women actually have tight or overactive pelvic floor muscles, not weak ones. In these cases, Kegels can make things worse.

As Dr. Katie Bailey explains in this educational post, real recovery involves more than isolated muscle contractions. It requires:

• Restoring the mind-muscle connection
• Learning how to manage pressure
• Strengthening through functional, full-body movement

A Smarter, 3-Phase Approach to Postpartum Recovery

At Vertex PT Specialists, our pelvic floor rehab process is divided into three clear stages:

1. Reconnect
   Rebuild awareness through diaphragmatic breathing and gentle coordination exercises.
2. Rebuild
   Develop a solid strength foundation through progressive loading and postural control.
3. Return
   Ease back into running, lifting, jumping, and other higher-impact activities while monitoring for symptoms.

Every phase is tailored to each patient’s symptoms, birth history, activity level, and goals.

Serving Women in Columbia, SC and Surrounding Areas

Dr. Katie Bailey sees patients at our Vertex PT Cayce clinic, just minutes from downtown Columbia. She works one-on-one with women in a private setting for a full hour, providing individualized care in a comfortable, supportive environment.

This program is ideal for women who are dealing with:

• Postpartum or age-related incontinence
• Pregnancy-related pelvic pain
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Pelvic heaviness or pressure
• Diastasis recti and core dysfunction

Whether you are newly postpartum, preparing for childbirth, or years past delivery and still struggling—pelvic floor physical therapy can help.

Meet Dr. Katie Bailey, Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist

Dr. Katie Bailey, PT, DPT, has advanced clinical training in pelvic health and personal experience as a mother of two. Her compassionate and evidence-based care helps women across the Columbia, SC area recover without surgery or medication.

Looking for Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Columbia, SC?

We’re here to help.

If you’re experiencing pelvic pain, pressure, or urinary leakage, visit our Women’s Health Physical Therapy page to learn more or schedule an evaluation with Dr. Katie Bailey.