New Resource Available for PTs and PTAs: APTA State of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy report
APTA State of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy report
Developed through a collaboration between APTA and APTA Pelvic Health, the APTA State of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy report can help PTs and PTAs learn all about practice trends, workforce challenges, access barriers, education and training pathways, and opportunities to expand the profession’s capacity to meet growing patient demand. Access the full report here.
Summary
The APTA State of Pelvic Health Physical Therapy report provides a comprehensive overview of the current landscape of pelvic health physical therapy in the United States. Developed through a collaborative effort between APTA and APTA Pelvic Health, an academy of the American Physical Therapy Association, the report draws on existing literature and findings from a national survey distributed broadly to physical therapists and physical therapist assistants who provide pelvic health services. The report is intended to support data informed decision making, advocacy, and strategic planning by articulating the value, scope, and challenges of pelvic health physical therapy within the evolving healthcare environment.
The report is designed to align the profession’s response to rapidly growing pelvic health needs with APTA’s strategic priorities with concise, credible, and shareable messages that articulate the value of pelvic health physical therapy to patients, referrers, health systems, payers, and policymakers.
"Pelvic health is no longer a niche area of healthcare—it is a growing public health priority. This report provides the data our profession needs to move beyond awareness and toward action. By documenting both the tremendous value of pelvic health physical therapy and the barriers that continue to limit access, we can better advocate for the workforce, education, and policies necessary to ensure every individual has access to the care they deserve."
— Kim Parker-Guerrero, PT, DPT, President, APTA Pelvic Health
Key Insights
Pelvic health needs are increasing while provider capacity remains limited. Demand for pelvic health physical therapy continues to grow, reflecting increased recognition of pelvic health conditions across the lifespan. However, workforce supply, geographic distribution, and appointment availability have not kept pace. Survey data show widespread capacity constraints, including extended wait times, delays in follow‑up care beyond what is medically appropriate, and many clinicians working at or beyond full schedules.
Pelvic health physical therapy addresses high‑prevalence conditions across the lifespan. Pelvic health PTs provide care for a broad range of conditions that significantly affect function and quality of life, including pelvic pain, urinary and bowel dysfunction, pregnancy‑ and postpartum‑related conditions, pelvic oncology, neurologic conditions, and age‑related pelvic health concerns. Care spans prevention, rehabilitation, and episodic management across genders and age groups.
Physical therapists and physical therapist assistants are essential to meeting demand. Survey findings highlight the importance of PTAs, collaborative practice models, and advanced training pathways in expanding access to pelvic healthcare while maintaining quality. Although utilizing PTAs is part of a broader strategy to increase capacity, shortages and underutilization persist.
Technology is influencing care delivery, access, and patient expectations. Diagnostic technologies, biofeedback tools, telehealth, and emerging digital platforms are increasingly used within pelvic health physical therapy. Respondents recognize opportunities to improve access and efficiency, particularly through telehealth and administrative technologies, while emphasizing that technology must complement, rather than replace, skilled, hands‑on, individualized care.
Barriers to care are largely structural rather than driven by patient disinterest. Access challenges are shaped primarily by extrinsic factors, including workforce shortages, reimbursement variability, administrative burden, referral patterns, and geographic limitations. These barriers contribute to delayed or unmet care despite patient need and interest in conservative treatment options.
