Pelvic Floor Health in Women's Soccer

In this episode, Nicole Surdyka is joined by Emma Brockwell, pelvic health physiotherapist for several Women's Super League clubs including Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester City, and Aston Villa. Emma also serves as a female health consultant for FIFA, leading pelvic health research and education initiatives that are shaping the future of women's football. Together they dive into what pelvic health looks like in elite sport—how it's assessed, addressed, and integrated across multidisciplinary teams. Emma explains the most common pelvic floor symptoms seen in female footballers, how to identify red flags as a physio or coach, and why urinary incontinence is common but not normal. She also shares practical guidance for practitioners without a pelvic health specialist on staff, along with strategies for pregnant and postpartum athletes navigating return to play. In this episode: • How Emma's work bridges pelvic health and performance in elite soccer • What to look for in athletes who may have pelvic floor dysfunction • Practical screening tools and conversation strategies for staff • How to adapt training and rehab progressions to support pelvic health • Insights from FIFA's upcoming pelvic health research and frameworks Emma also highlights valuable resources for practitioners, including the Active Pregnancy Foundation, Michelle Lyons, Christina Previtt, and Margie Davenport's Exercise & Pregnancy work. 👉 Connect with Emma on Instagram @physiomumuk and find her book Did No One Tell Me? on Amazon. Learn more at femmefc.com and follow @femmefc for future episodes.