Low back pain is one of the most common reasons patients walk into a physical therapy clinic. It is also one of the most under-treated when clinicians focus only on the lumbar spine. For a growing body of patients, the lumbar spine is the symptom. The pelvic floor is the source.

If you are an orthopedic, sports, or general outpatient clinician treating low back pain and feel your patients are not making the progress you would expect, the pelvic floor may be the missing piece. Herman & Wallace is offering two free live webinars this May with senior faculty member and Director of Education Allison Ariail, PT, DPT, CLT-LANA, BCB-PMD, PRPC. The first session unpacks the clinical connection between the pelvic floor and low back pain. The second is an open Ask Me Anything session for clinicians considering the Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification (PRPC).

What does the pelvic floor have to do with low back pain?

The pelvic floor does not work in isolation. It works as part of the deep stabilization system of the trunk, alongside the transverse abdominis, the lumbar multifidus, and the diaphragm. These muscles co-contract to create intra-abdominal pressure and provide segmental stability through the lumbar spine and pelvic ring.

When one piece of that system is dysfunctional, the others compensate. A pelvic floor that is overactive, underactive, or poorly coordinated can drive instability at the sacroiliac joint, alter lumbopelvic control, and present clinically as nonspecific low back pain. Research has consistently demonstrated that women with chronic low back pain have measurable differences in pelvic floor activation and timing compared to controls. The same patterns have been identified in men with persistent lumbar pain and a history of pelvic pain or urinary symptoms.

For clinicians without pelvic floor training, this connection can be easy to miss. Patients rarely volunteer urinary, bowel, or sexual health symptoms. They come in describing back pain. They may have already failed two or three previous courses of physical therapy that focused exclusively on the lumbar spine and core.

Free Webinar 1: The Pelvic Floor and Low Back Pain

In this live session, Allison will walk clinicians through the clinical and anatomical connections between the pelvic floor and low back pain, share the symptom patterns that suggest pelvic floor involvement, and outline what assessment and referral pathways can look like in everyday practice. This webinar is designed for clinicians who do not specialize in pelvic health but who want to recognize when the pelvic floor is part of the picture.

Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2026   |   Time: 1:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM MT
Cost: Free   |   Presenter: Allison Ariail, PT, DPT, CLT-LANA, BCB-PMD, PRPC
Register: Register for Webinar

Free Webinar 2: PRPC Ask Me Anything

For clinicians who already work in pelvic health and are ready to formalize their expertise, the Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification (PRPC) is the credential that signals advanced clinical mastery. The second webinar in this series is a live open Ask Me Anything session where Allison answers your questions about the certification, the exam, eligibility, and how to prepare.

Date: Wednesday, May 27, 2026   |   Time: 1:00 PM ET / 11:00 AM MT
Cost: Free   |   Presenter: Allison Ariail, PT, DPT, CLT-LANA, BCB-PMD, PRPC
Register: Register for Webinar

What is the PRPC, and why earn it through Herman & Wallace?

The Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certification is a board certification developed by Herman & Wallace that recognizes clinicians who have demonstrated advanced clinical knowledge across the full scope of pelvic rehabilitation. The exam covers male and female pelvic health, pediatric and geriatric considerations, oncology, pregnancy and postpartum care, bowel and bladder dysfunction, sexual health, and chronic pelvic pain.

Unlike credentials limited to one population or one diagnostic area, the PRPC reflects breadth across the lifespan and across the full pelvic health caseload. Clinicians who hold the PRPC use it to communicate their expertise to referring providers, patients, employers, and the broader rehabilitation community.

Herman & Wallace is the institute that developed and administers the PRPC, and the only place to learn directly from the faculty who write and teach the foundational coursework. Allison Ariail is one of those faculty members, having served as senior faculty and Director of Education at Herman & Wallace for many years.

To learn more about the PRPC requirements, eligibility, and exam content, visit hermanwallace.com/prpc.

Why these two webinars belong on your calendar

Whether you are an orthopedic clinician who wants to recognize when the pelvic floor is contributing to your low back pain caseload, or a pelvic health specialist who wants to formalize your expertise with a board certification, these two free webinars deliver high-value clinical content from one of the most respected voices in pelvic rehabilitation.

Register for one or both. Bring your clinical questions. Both sessions are free and live.