Dr. Mae Hughes: Pelvic Floor Health for Athletes: Bridging Sports Rehab and Pelvic PT

In our latest episode, we sit down with Dr. Mae Hughes, a sports residency–trained physical therapist and pelvic floor specialist who’s changing how clinicians think about the connection between pelvic health and athletic performance.

Dr. Hughes blends her background in sports rehab with advanced training in pelvic floor therapy to help athletes recover from chronic hip, hamstring, and low back pain, and to address a topic that’s often overlooked in performance settings: the role of the pelvic floor in stability, power, and injury prevention.

In this episode, we cover how pelvic floor dysfunction shows up in athletes (and why it’s not just a women’s issue), the connection between pelvic mechanics, hip stability, and hamstring injuries, how breathing and diaphragmatic control can reveal pelvic floor dysfunction, why sports PTs need to assess the pelvic floor during return-to-play, integrating internal exams, loading, and movement for full-body rehab and misconceptions about pelvic floor therapy and how Dr. Hughes is bridging the gap between orthopedics and pelvic health.

Dr. Hughes breaks down how to assess pelvic floor dysfunction, even without an internal exam, and explains why breathing, pressure management, and proper cueing are essential in preventing injury and improving performance. She also shares her insights on pelvic floor issues after hip surgery, how to load the pelvic floor safely, and why sports PTs should feel empowered, not intimidated, to talk about this critical system.

Whether you’re a sports physical therapist, strength coach, or athlete, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to better understand how pelvic floor health impacts performance, pain, and long-term durability.

Watch now to learn how Dr. Mae Hughes is redefining what it means to treat the whole athlete from the inside out.

Connect with Dr. Mae Hughes:

📸 Instagram: @dr.maehughes

🌐 Website: https://drmaehughes.com/

🎥 YouTube: @dr.maehughes

Follow True Sports PT:

📲 Instagram: @truesportspt

🎧 Subscribe to the True Sports PT Podcast for expert conversations at the intersection of rehab, performance, and innovation.

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