The Role of Exercise Physiology in Chronic Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis
Chronic pelvic pain and endometriosis are complex, often misunderstood conditions that affect millions of women worldwide. While treatment traditionally focuses on medication, surgery, or manual therapy, there’s growing recognition of the powerful role exercise physiology can play in managing these conditions, not just physically, but emotionally and functionally too.
What Is Chronic Pelvic Pain and Endometriosis?
Chronic pelvic pain (CPP) refers to persistent pain in the lower abdomen or pelvic region that lasts for more than six months. It may or may not be associated with a
clear diagnosis. Endometriosis is one of the most common contributors to CPP and occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, triggering inflammation, pain, and often fatigue or digestive issues.
Where Does Exercise Physiology Come In?
These conditions are not only painful, they’re often exhausting, disruptive, and deeply personal. And while each person’s experience is unique, one thing is clear: movement can be a game-changer.
An Accredited Exercise Physiologist (AEP) is a university-trained allied health professional with expertise in designing safe, evidence-based exercise programs for people with chronic and complex conditions. In the context of pelvic pain and endometriosis, AEPs offer more than just exercise, they offer a whole-person movement based approach to symptom management and function.
Here’s how:
1. Reducing Inflammation and Pain
Exercise can reduce systemic inflammation and improve blood flow, both of which are important in managing endometriosis-related pain. With a tailored program, clients can learn how to move in a way that supports their body, rather than triggering flare-ups.
2. Rebuilding Muscular Function and Pelvic Support
Chronic pain often leads to guarding and altered movement patterns. Over time, this creates dysfunction in muscles around the hips, core, and pelvic floor. An AEP helps retrain these muscles not through high-intensity workouts, but through gradual, purposeful movement designed to restore coordination, control, and strength.
3. Improving Load Tolerance and Daily Function
Living with pain can shrink your world. Walking, lifting, working, even getting through a full day without exhaustion, these things feel out of reach. Exercise physiology helps clients progressively build their capacity to handle daily life without being knocked back by pain or fatigue.
4. Managing Energy and Fatigue
Endometriosis often comes with unpredictable energy levels and fatigue. AEPs are trained to consider this in program design, helping clients balance activity with rest, and learn how to pace themselves to stay consistent over time.
5. Supporting Mental Health and Autonomy
Living with chronic pain can take a toll on mental wellbeing and leave many feeling disconnected from their body. Exercise, when done right, helps rebuild trust in the body. It becomes a tool for control, confidence, and clarity, not something to fear or avoid.
Not Just Yoga and Stretching
While gentle movement like yoga and stretching has its place, many people with endo and pelvic pain are capable of doing more, and they want to, they just need the right approach. An Exercise Physiologist helps bridge that gap, creating a program that evolves with the person, and aligns with their symptoms, cycle, and goals.
A Tailored, Trauma-Informed Approach
At HER Exercise Physiology, we understand that pain is personal. Our fully virtual clinic offers 1:1 support, meeting each woman where she’s at, whether she’s flaring, frustrated, or ready to get back into movement again. We work collaboratively to address not just the body, but the broader lifestyle, stress, sleep, and support needs that often go hand-in-hand with chronic pelvic conditions.
If you’re living with endometriosis or chronic pelvic pain and feel like you’ve tried everything, know this: movement can help. You just need the right plan, and the right support.
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