Why Traditional Physio Goals Don’t Work in Pelvic Health — And What To Do Instead
In physiotherapy, we’re taught to set SMART goals — Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, Time‑bound. And at first glance, they make perfect sense.
Specific? Yes. Measurable? Absolutely — I can get on board with that. But then we hit Achievable and Realistic… and suddenly the whole thing shrinks.
Specific and measurable feel purposeful. Realistic and achievable feel like someone has taken your life & potential — and placed them inside a very sensible, very limited box.
In pelvic health, that box is far too small and neat.
Why Goals Fall Short in Pelvic Health
Goals are things you tick off. Complete. Achieve. Finish. But pelvic health — and long‑term wellbeing — isn’t something you “finish.”
Most women arrive in clinic not because of one isolated event, but because of a path they’ve been walking for months or years. A path shaped by habits, stressors, coping strategies, seasons of life, and the rhythms of their body.
So instead of asking:
“What’s your goal?”
I prefer to ask:
“How did you get here?” and “What would it look like to live well?”
Not better. Not symptom‑free for now. But WELL.
Goals vs. Identity
This is where I love the thinking behind Atomic Habits and identity‑based change. If you set a goal — say, running a marathon — you get a plan, slog through it, have good days and awful days, and eventually… you finish. Shiney medal in hand, you retire to the sofa.
Goal achieved. Game over.
But if you decide:
“I am a runner.”
That changes things.
You wear the activewear. You fuel your body. You hydrate. You recover. You run 2km one day and 20km the next — and both are equally valid because you’re living the identity, not chasing the goal.
There is no “end.” Just a life shaped around the habits that make running possible.
What This Means for Pelvic Health
Let’s say I’ve told you constipation is driving your pelvic floor symptoms. A goal‑based approach says:
drink more water
eat more fibre
And yes — that might very well help.
But what if we zoom out and ask:
“What would life look like if you were well?”
You might say:
“I’d feel energised. I’d go back to tennis.”
Suddenly, the identity shifts.
Instead of someone trying to drink more water, you become someone who is:
hydrating for tennis
fueling for performance
moving with purpose
training their pelvic floor through tennis drills
strengthening their hips and core for the sport they love
Which of these realities is going to stick long‑term?
The one that feels meaningful.
The one that feels like you. T
he one that builds habits instead of ticking boxes.
Why This Matters at The Pelvic Health Company
In pelvic health there can be a lot of “nearly there” outcomes:
pain‑free but not optimised
functioning but not thriving
coping but not living fully
That’s why I work the way I do.
Before we build a rehab plan, we address the foundations of how your body is functioning — your rhythms, your stress responses, your habits, your identity, your lived experience.
Because when those foundations shift, your body becomes a place where wellbeing is possible.
This is not about doing better. It’s about living WELL.
If This Idea Makes You Think “I Could Never Do That…”
That’s just your ego trying to keep you safe.
Yes, change takes some effort. Yes, there will be discomfort or decisions to be made. But not nearly as much as you imagine — if you do it the good way.
Not through force. Not through ticking off goals. But through shaping habits, identity, and daily rhythms that support your pelvic health from the inside out.
So What If Your “Goals” Became Habits Instead?
Habits that:
nourish your body
support your pelvic floor
align with your identity
make wellbeing feel natural
build a life where your symptoms no longer dominate
That’s the work we do together at The Pelvic Health Company. Not chasing goals — but restoring your body so you can live fully, whatever that looks like for you. If that’s you can book your next session HERE or share this blog with a friend so they can move forwards too.