Stop Telling Women to Play Small—Especially After Prolapse

Let’s talk about prolapse, fear, and outdated advice.

Recently, I had a client come in after being told by a physiotherapist never to lift more than 15 pounds again—because of her prolapse. That’s less than a grocery bag, a toddler, or her backpack. She left that appointment terrified to move, afraid her body was fragile, and worst of all, feeling like she’d lost her strength and her confidence in one go.

But here’s the truth: a prolapse diagnosis does not mean a lifetime of restriction.

This client didn’t want to feel limited. She didn’t want to be afraid of her own body. So we tried a different approach—one that involved education, support, and options.

She opted for a pessary for support and worked with me on individualized strengthening exercises. She learned how to breathe well, engage her core, and move with intention. Last week? She deadlifted her body weight. Yep. The same woman who was told she shouldn’t lift more than 15 pounds.

Now before you think I threw her into powerlifting on day one, let me be clear: This was a slow, thoughtful, personalized journey. But it proves something important—the problem isn’t the prolapse; the problem is the restriction mindset.

Prolapse is real, and for some, it’s scary. But limiting women’s movement without offering them tools to thrive is outdated and unhelpful. It’s not holistic. It’s not empowering. And it’s certainly not necessary.

We need to stop framing women’s bodies as fragile. Women lift car seats, groceries, laundry baskets, strollers, and, let’s be real—emotional loads the size of trucks.

A good pelvic health plan involves options: education, movement, sometimes a pessary, and always, always, the belief that women are strong.

So let’s stop telling women to shrink their world and start helping them expand it—with the right support.

Let’s raise the bar—literally and figuratively.



Nicola Robertson

Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist