Physical therapy
for tailbone pain

Does physical therapy help tailbone pain?

Physical therapy helps many people reduce tailbone pain by improving how the hips, pelvis, and lower back support the coccyx (tailbone). This type of pain often appears during sitting or when standing up, so therapy focuses on restoring comfortable movement and reducing pressure on the area.

Physical therapy works by improving strength, mobility, movement control, and the way your body regulates pain. It is usually a first treatment because it teaches you practical tools that help you move with less discomfort. These active approaches often work better than passive treatments like rest or heat alone because they build long term resilience.

Research shows that exercise based programs, manual techniques, and pelvic floor therapy can reduce pain in the short and mid term for people with coccydynia (tailbone pain), although results vary and follow up data are limited¹. Shockwave therapy has also shown benefit compared to steroid injections in some trials^{2 3}.

Goals of physical therapy for tailbone pain

Physical therapy aims to help you feel more comfortable in daily life. Some short term goals include reducing pain during sitting, easing sit to stand transitions, and improving sleep comfort. Long term goals focus on improving hip and core strength (abdominal, back, pelvic and hip muscles), restoring healthy function coordination, and helping you return to work, exercise, and social activities that involve sitting.

Every program is personalized. Your exercises and pacing will depend on your symptoms, activity level, and whether tissue and muscle tension plays a role in your pain.

What results can I expect with physical therapy?

Many people begin to notice improvement in 6 to 12 weeks of consistent care, especially when exercises are paired with posture changes and sitting strategies⁴. Benefits often include easier sitting, reduced sharp pain when standing up, better mobility, and improved confidence in movement.

Recovery looks different for each person. Some improve quickly while others need more time, especially if pain has been present for several months. Evidence shows that pelvic floor therapy, shockwave therapy, and manual techniques can help reduce symptoms, but results vary from study to study^{1 2}.

Sword's approach

Sword Health helps people manage pain and movement issues with expert-guided AI care you can use from home. Our model combines clinical support with modern technology, designed to work around your life.

Sword makes recovery easier and more accessible. You get high-quality care at home, guided by clinicians and supported by smart technology.

• Care that adapts to your progress in real time
• Licensed experts guiding every step
• Simple, non-invasive, evidence-based programs
• Proven results for pain relief, movement, and satisfaction

Clinical insight

A recent clinical review notes that exercise based therapy and pelvic floor focused care are effective first options for coccydynia. These approaches help improve mobility and reduce muscle overactivity, especially when sitting pain is the main symptom¹.