Pelvic Health Specialty

Your first visit will be an initial exam and the treating Physical Therapist will thoroughly explain the treatment plan and discuss personal goals.

Receive education on diet and nutrition to avoid items that may irritate the bowel or bladder.

Obtain advice on how to change behaviors that make symptoms worse.

Stay fully dressed during your treatment session even if your diagnosis requires use of an internal sensor.

Ask any/all questions you have relating to your women’s health concerns.

Dress comfortably because exercise will be an important part of your treatment.

For pelvic floor muscle biofeedback and electrical stimulation an internal biofeedback sensor may be used.

You do not have to use an internal sensor… surface EMG biofeedback may also be used (this will be determined based on your diagnosis and your initial assessment by your PT).

If you are coming for a pain related diagnosis you should leave with less pain or at least understand the plan on how you will get there.

If strengthening, stretching and/or stabilization exercises are part of your program you should have muscle soreness.

Always tell your treating therapist if you are having any pain or discomfort.

Biofeedback is an important adjunct to pelvic floor muscle exercise. It may be part of the treatment plan if you have difficulty identifying, controlling and coordinating the function of their pelvic floor muscles. Surface EMG or internal biofeedback sensors are connected to a computer that will give a very clear picture of how you are able to relax and contract muscle groups. This will help to facilitate the awareness of muscle contraction during exercise, your ability to relax and your ability to isolate certain muscles without compensating with other muscles.

Electrical stimulation can be used on the pelvic floor muscles with the intent of strengthening these muscles. It is generally chosen to retrain a specific muscle. A physical therapist would apply stimulation at selected intervals over the motor point of the muscle in order to promote muscle response.

For stress incontinence, the cure rate could be as high as 50% and the improvement rate as high as 90%.

This can also be used internally or by surface EMG.

Depending on the severity and ability to perform specific exercises properly this will vary. Some patients will show results within one week of training.

Individuals with stress incontinence who are taught to properly contract their pelvic floor muscles before or during a cough can reduce the amount of urine loss by 98%.

On average patients report noticing a difference within 2 weeks of beginning Physical Therapy treatment.

This will depend on your diagnosis and objective findings from your initial evaluation.

Incontinence training is generally 4-8 total visits.

A home program will be initiated immediately and compliance with this will decrease the frequency and duration of your PT treatment.

Coverage for PT varies based on your medical insurance provider.

Most Insurance companies will cover your physical therapy treatments as long as it is medically necessary.

If you are out of network you can still be treated; the cost may be different and this can be explained to you by contacting our clinic.

You may have a co-pay or deductible depending on your type of insurance. This will be due at the time of service.

Pelvic Floor sensors may not be covered by your insurance and will cost roughly $50.