Beyond Muscles: The Bone Driving Postpartum Pelvic Pain

Are you considering the bone itself (and not just the muscles) when postpartum patients come to you with persistent pelvic pain, adductor tightness, or tailbone symptoms? In today’s podcast episode, Lynn Schulte, PT introduces the concept of osseous lesions in the pelvis, subtle hardening of pelvic bones that can occur during childbirth and continue to drive soft tissue tension long after delivery. She explains how birth mechanics, baby positioning, and prolonged pushing can create trauma in key pelvic structures – and how skilled palpation can help clinicians identify the difference between healthy bone and hardened bone. This conversation opens the door to a frequently overlooked contributor to postpartum dysfunction. If you treat postpartum women, this conversation can help enhance your assessment of the pelvis.✨ Key Takeaways for PractitionersOsseous lesions are areas of hardened bone created by trauma or compression during birth, often affecting surrounding muscles, ligaments, and tendons.The most common pelvic locations include the lower sacrum (S3–S4), coccyx, pubic rami, and medial ischial tuberosities.Persistent muscle tightness - like recurrent adductor tension - may actually be a reaction to a bone lesion rather than a primary soft-tissue problem.Skilled palpation can help clinicians differentiate normal bone mobility (“tree”) from hardened bone (“telephone pole”).Gentle compression techniques may help restore softness and mobility to affected bone and improve symptoms.This episode will challenge practitioners to start listening to the bones, not just the muscles, when evaluating postpartum pelvic dysfunction.Have a comment or question about today’s episode? Message Lynn on Instagram or Facebook, or Email Lynn.If you enjoyed today’s podcast and are interested in more topics to support your clinical practice and treating your clients, find us on your favorite podcast app and subscribe so you don’t miss an episode.To learn more visit:InstituteforBirthHealing.comVisit Institute for Birth Healing to learn more about how to care for the pregnant and postpartum body: CLICK HERE