How Occupational Therapy Fits Into Your Care

Supporting Pelvic Floor Health, Hypermobility, and POTS — Together With Physical Therapy

If you currently receive care at our physical therapy clinic, you may notice that an occupational therapist (OT) is now part of the care team. This addition is intentional — and it’s designed to support you more fully in daily life, especially if you’re managing pelvic floor symptoms, joint hypermobility, autonomic conditions like POTS, or chronic pain and fatigue.

Physical therapy and occupational therapy work side by side, each bringing a different (but complementary) focus to your care.

A Shared Holistic Approach to Care

In holistic therapy settings, physical therapists and occupational therapists often already address many of the same core elements of care — especially for complex, whole-body conditions such as pelvic floor dysfunction, hypermobility, and autonomic disorders like POTS. Both disciplines take into account the nervous system, breathing patterns, posture, body mechanics, pacing, and how symptoms affect daily life. You may already be working on strategies such as energy conservation, symptom awareness, activity modification, and nervous system regulation with your therapist. Adding both PT and OT does not change this philosophy — it strengthens it. Each provider brings a slightly different perspective while reinforcing shared goals and strategies, creating a more integrated and consistent approach to care that supports your function both inside and outside the clinic.

Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy: What’s the Difference?

Both PTs and OTs are licensed rehabilitation professionals. The key difference is where the focus begins.

• Physical Therapy (PT) focuses on movement, strength, mobility, posture, and physical rehabilitation.

• Occupational Therapy (OT) focuses on how your condition affects daily activities, routines, roles, and quality of life — and how to adapt or retrain those activities safely.

Think of it this way:PT helps your body move better.OT helps you live better with your body.

When both are involved, care becomes more complete and more personalized.

What Does an Occupational Therapist Do in Pelvic Floor Care?

Pelvic floor symptoms don’t just affect muscles — they affect everyday life.

An OT trained in pelvic health may help with:

• Bladder and bowel habits

• Toileting routines and positioning

• Pelvic pain during daily activities

• Sexual activity concerns (comfort, pacing, positioning)

• Menstrual care challenges

• Postpartum or post-surgical recovery

• Strategies for pelvic floor tension or overactivity

• Breathing and nervous system regulation

Rather than focusing only on muscle strength, OTs look at coordination, habits, body awareness, and real-life function— what happens outside the clinic.

How OT Helps with Hypermobility (HSD / hEDS)

Hypermobility affects more than joints — it affects how you move through your entire day.

OT support may include:

• Joint protection strategies for daily tasks

• Activity modification to reduce pain and injury

• Fatigue and flare management

• Proprioceptive support (improving body awareness)

• Ergonomic guidance for work, school, and home

• Bracing and adaptive equipment education

• Pacing strategies to avoid the “push–crash” cycle

For many people with hypermobility, symptoms show up most during everyday activities — and that’s where OT excels.

How OT Supports People with POTS and Autonomic Conditions

Conditions like POTS can affect energy, concentration, upright tolerance, and daily routines. Even simple tasks can feel overwhelming.

An OT can help you:

• Structure your day around energy levels

• Modify morning, hygiene, and shower routines

• Learn seated or low-energy task strategies

• Manage brain fog and cognitive fatigue

• Use pacing and prioritization tools

• Understand compression, temperature regulation, and symptom triggers

• Plan a sustainable return to work or school

The goal isn’t to “push through” symptoms — it’s to help you participate in life safely and consistently.

Why OT and PT Work Best Together

Many patients with pelvic floor dysfunction, hypermobility, and POTS experience:

• Chronic pain

• Fatigue

• Nervous system dysregulation

• Symptoms that fluctuate day to day

• Big impacts on daily life, even when tests look “normal”

By combining PT and OT:

• PT addresses movement, strength, and physical rehabilitation

• OT addresses how symptoms show up during real life

• Care becomes more coordinated, practical, and sustainable

This team approach often helps patients feel more understood and more supported.

Our Goal

Our goal is to help you not only move better — but function better, with less pain, fewer flares, and more confidence in daily life.

If you’re curious about how occupational therapy fits into your plan of care, we’re always happy to talk with you about it.

Contact Us