pelvic floor physical therapy frequently asked questions:
For general FAQs about our practice, see here.
What is the pelvic floor?
The pelvic floor is a hammock-like set of muscles, connective tissues, and nerves running front-to-back from your pubic bone to your tailbone, and side-to-side between your sit bones. The pelvic floor acts a floor for your core—supporting your internal organs, preventing leaking, and helping you pee, poop, and have sex with ease. The pelvic floor also has a major role in pregnancy, labor, and postpartum recovery.
How do you help?
We focus on restoring the muscle flexibility, strength, and coordination of your pelvic floor muscles and tissues. We assess how you are using your pelvic floor and how its interacting with the rest of your body to determine what we can improve to reduce your symptoms so your can return to the activities you love without concerns. Our goal is for you to feel relief—with a sense of control and a quality of life.
Who do you help? What conditions do you treat?
We help people of all ages. Pelvic floor physical therapy can be effective for pregnancy, birth preparation and recovery, and for treating bladder conditions such as incontinence (leaking, frequency, and/or urgency) and bowel conditions such incontinence (leaking, frequency, and/or urgency); pelvic pain (vulvodynia and vaginismus); organ prolapse; neuralgia, post-prostatectomy, gender affirming surgery recovery, or unresolved back or hip pain. These symptoms are common and treatable. You do not have to accept how things are now. Life can be better!
Why didn’t anyone talk to me about my pelvic floor/pelvic floor PT before?
We want to change this. We’re on a mission to make talking about the muscles and structures of the pelvic floor as commonplace as talking about your biceps, hamstrings, or lats. Yes, your pelvic floor is involved in sex, peeing, and pooping—intimate activities that have typically been discussed in hushed tones or avoided altogether. And that’s not helping anyone. That’s why we’re champions for openness and accessibility. Too often, women have been left feeling alone, and unaware that their pain, leaking or other symptoms can be improved.
Do I need a diagnosis from a doctor or other health professional to come see you?
No, a diagnosis is not necessary. While we welcome referrals and arriving diagnoses and see ourselves as part of a care team, we will always begin with your story (see below).
What can I expect at my first appointment?
We allow additional time for initial visits to ensure we hear your entire story, can accurately assess your needs and provide much needed treatment.
We do an orthopedic screen, looking at how you move and provide education on the related anatomy, including your pelvis. We'll look at how your pelvis is working (or not) in relation to your hips, back, core, and limbs—and how you walk, sit, bend and move. We also assess how your pelvic floor muscles are specifically working—using both external and internal techniques. With the information of how your body is moving and how your pelvic floor muscles are working, we can develop a tailored approach to help you.
What is an internal exam/technique?
The internal exam provides us with valuable information that is helpful for recovery, and is done gently, with a lubricated, gloved finger. Here we are evaluating your pelvic muscles (not organs as in gynecological exam), and seeing if any of your symptoms can be reproduced upon examination. Taken together, your story, external exam, and internal pelvic floor assessment gives us the most complete picture of what is happening and why, so we can sketch out the most effective treatment.
What are follow up sessions like?
Each follow up session is 50 to 55 minutes. We will be working together to get your pelvic moving and functioning better, and may include some manual work from your PT to release and retrain your pelvic floor. Our orthopedic physical therapy training offers us a unique, integrative vantage point to help you reset all the muscles to work well together.
I’m pregnant. Is it safe to do pelvic floor therapy and exercise?
Yes, pregnancy demands a lot of your body. It’s an excellent time to get support and improve the tone and function of your pelvic floor. We coordinate with your OB GYN to ensure you are a good candidate.
We see our patients in their second and third trimesters. This can set you up for an easier delivery, a better understanding of how to push, and a more resilient postpartum recovery. Many of our pregnant and postpartum clients say that we helped them navigate their body through a really hard time in a way that they didn’t even know was possible or that they needed. We always encourage you to be proactive and set yourself up for success.
How often and long will I need to see you?
It depends. We work with some women over the course of a few sessions, for others the situation is multi-faceted and we may work together for months. It varies based on your individual needs..
Do you work with/update my doctor or care team?
Yes! We believe in a well orchestrated care plan, and know you may already be under care or working with your internist, OB/GYN, midwife, doula, urologist, GI, or other specialist(s). We are able to communicate with your care team to support your recovery.