Tailbone pain is a common symptom. You may experience tailbone pain during pregnancy, due to trauma such as a direct fall to the tailbone or because of increased pressure that is placed through the tailbone while sitting. 

Internal tailbone adjustments (also known as mobilizations) are one type of treatment that can be performed in pelvic floor physical therapy. During an internal tailbone adjustment (or mobilization), the patient would lay either on their side or on their stomach. With permission, a pelvic floor therapist then takes one gloved finger and inserts it rectally until they can reach the tailbone. The therapist then moves the tailbone by applying gentle pressure to the tailbone. 

Many people ask if internal tailbone adjustments/mobilizations are painful. Even though the tailbone is a fairly deep structure, during the internal tailbone adjustment, you typically you won’t feel anything more than some light pressure (similar to the sensation that you may need to have a bowel movement). The tip of the tailbone may be sensitive, however the mobilization itself is very gentle.

Often the internal tailbone adjustment or mobilization is pain relieving for patients. In order for the relief to be long lasting, patients will often need a series of internal tailbone mobilizations, as typically mobilizing the tailbone once is not enough to get rid of tailbone pain completely.

The internal tailbone adjustment or mobilization is typically most effective when combined with soft tissue mobilization to the pelvic floor muscles. Since the pelvic floor muscles attach directly to the tailbone, often these muscles can pull on the tip of the tailbone. Therefore, combining internal pelvic floor muscle release with internal tailbone adjustments/mobilizations, is often very effective at reducing tailbone pain. 

Since the tailbone is an extension of the lowest portion of the lower back, your pelvic floor therapist may also notice that your tailbone mobility is improved during soft tissue or joint mobilizations to the lower back. Combining internal tailbone treatment with external lower back treatment is often very effective in patients struggling with both lower back and tailbone pain.

Internal tailbone treatment can be an extremely effective treatment technique for tailbone pain. Combining internal tailbone adjustments (or mobilizations) with other manual and exercise techniques is an extremely effective treatment for tailbone pain. To get started with treatment, please click here.

Other resources for tailbone pain:

• Physical Therapy for Tailbone Pain

• Tailbone Pain During Pregnancy: Causes and Relief