Hip–Pelvic Floor Connections: What Clinicians Actually Need to Know — with DR. LAUREL PROULX & DR. JENNY LACROSS

Send us Fan MailWhat are we getting right — and wrong — about the hip–pelvic floor connection?In this episode of the Active Mom Podcast, I sit down with Dr. Jenny LaCross, PhD, ATC, PT and Dr. Laurel Proulx, PT, DPT to unpack the evolving conversation around pelvic floor dysfunction, hip mechanics, stress urinary incontinence, and clinical reasoning in women’s health physical therapy.Jenny is a certified athletic trainer and board-certified women’s health physical therapist with extensive experience treating pelvic health, hip, and low back conditions. Laurel focuses on modernizing pelvic health through research and education while bridging the gap between rehab and fitness. Together, they challenge oversimplified narratives around “weak vs. tight” pelvic floors and advocate for a more nuanced, individualized, impairment-based framework.We dive into how myths continue to shape patient care, why clinicians may be focusing on the wrong impairments, and what the research actually supports when it comes to pelvic floor strength, high tone, levator ani considerations, urethral support, and morphologic variability.If you’re a pelvic floor PT, orthopedic clinician, strength coach, or rehab professional working with active women navigating leakage, pelvic pain, prolapse, or hip–pelvic floor crossover symptoms, this episode offers practical insight into assessment, communication, and evidence-informed decision-making.In this episode, we talk about:The relationship between the hip and pelvic floor — what we know and what remains unclearDebunking common pelvic floor myths that influence treatment plansWhy clinicians may be focusing on the wrong impairments in patient careThe levator ani’s role in stress urinary incontinencePelvic floor strength — and why strength alone doesn’t tell the whole storyHigh tone pelvic floor presentations and how to interpret findingsUrethral failure and the potential role of geneticsCommon morphologic variations and how anatomy impacts functionThe big clinical takeaways for improving pelvic health assessment and treatmentThis is a thoughtful, research-informed conversation designed to help you move beyond black-and-white thinking and deliver smarter, individualized pelvic floor care.If you’re committed to advancing women’s health physical therapy and refining your clinical reasoning in pelvic rehab, this one’s for you.Time Stamps1:00 Introduction7:15 debunking common pelvic floor myths15:23 focusing on the wrong things with patient care18:15 the levator ani and incontinence23:27 pelvic floor strength27:05 pelvic floor high tone35:35 common morphologic variations45:36 the big take home adviceCONNECT WITH CARRIEIG: https://www.instagram.com/carriepagliano/Website: https://carriepagliano.comCONNECT WITH LAUREL & JENNY:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenn.lacross/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.laurelproulx/The Active Mom Podcast — a real mom's guide to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause & beyond, for active moms and the professionals who help them get there.Quick-hit conversations with moms, providers, and researchers... because you don't have a lot of free time (you're probably listening at 1.5x right now).Follow so you don't miss an episode. Rate & review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ — it's how the next mom searching for these answers actually finds them. Share it with the friend who needs it.Questions or topic requests? DM me 💌