Dr. Michelle Koval

Michelle believes the body is an incredible anatomical puzzle—and she loves figuring out how all the pieces fit together.

As a pelvic health physical therapist, Michelle works with people of all genders experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction, bladder and bowel concerns, sexual health concerns, pregnancy and postpartum changes, core weakness, and difficulty returning to the activities they love. She has a particular passion for helping people get back to running, lifting, and movement without fear or the feeling that they have to accept symptoms as their “new normal.”

Her own journey into pelvic health began after having her first child. Like many new moms, Michelle was eager to get back to being active. After being told to “go for it,” she did—only to realize that she had gone too hard, too fast and created some pelvic health issues of her own. What started as a personal search for answers became a much bigger realization: so many people were experiencing these problems without understanding what was happening or knowing that there was something they could do about it.

That experience changed the direction of her career. Michelle began pursuing specialized education in pelvic health and has continued to expand her training as the field evolves. She earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Northwestern University in 2009 and became a Pelvic Rehabilitation Practitioner Certified (PRPC) through the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute in 2020.

Her approach is hands-on, movement-focused, and whole-body centered. She uses manual therapy, visceral mobilization, dry needling, cupping, exercise, and functional movement strategies when appropriate—but the goal is never simply to treat a muscle or a symptom. It’s to understand why something is happening, help patients connect the dots, and give them the tools and confidence to keep moving forward.

As the founder of Pillar Pelvic Health, Michelle is passionate about changing the way people think and talk about pelvic health. She believes pelvic health should be part of whole-body health—not something people have to quietly struggle with or simply learn to live with.

Outside of the clinic, Michelle is a very active mom of three “nut balls” who keeps life interesting. She loves running, lifting, riding her Peloton bike to nowhere, and spending time with her family.

And, in keeping with the realities of being a working mom, some days she has it all together—and other days she finds her keys in the refrigerator.