Frequently Asked Questions

You may have questions about physical therapy, our practice, the pelvic floor, or what treatment looks like. View some of our FAQs below for answers.

Still have questions? No problem. Contact us.

What is the pelvic floor?

A group of muscles create the pelvic floor by extending from the pubic bone to the tailbone. These muscles help support the pelvic organs, maintain continence of the urine and stool, and maintain sexual function, among other things. In addition, many people who suffer from chronic back and hip pain may have an unresolved pelvic floor related dysfunction. Pelvic floor physical therapists aim to improve the function of the pelvic floor muscles through a comprehensive evaluation of the musculoskeletal system, posture, and movement.

Is pelvic floor physical therapy gender-specific? Do you see men?

Pelvic floor physical therapy is for everyone and anyone. While treatment looks different depending on the situation, we treat men and women alike across a range of pelvic health-focused issues.

What pelvic floor conditions do we treat?

Some examples of conditions we treat include: 

• Constipation
• Diastasis recti
• Incontinence (fecal, stress, urinary, mixed)
• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Pregnancy-related musculoskeletal disorders
• Sacroiliac joint dysfunction

However, it is important to recognize that almost everyone who has one or more of the above diagnoses, may suffer from other orthopedic and functional complications. Therefore, an experienced physical therapist in the field of orthopedic and pelvic floor is more qualified in providing care for these individuals. See a more detailed list of conditions we see on our Services page.

What if you don’t treat the condition I’m experiencing? Or what if I live too far away from PhysioWellnessVA?

There’s always a possibility that our team may not be the right fit for what you’re experiencing, or we may not be in your area. If that is the case, we will work with you to find the right care team. We have numerous connections to pelvic floor and other physical therapists across the country, as well as connections with other types of providers who may be better suited to support you. Feel free to use our Contact page if you have questions about finding the right care team.

Is a prescription from a doctor required to start physical therapy?

As a direct access provider, we can start your care without a physician/health care provider’s referral.  However, if your visits go beyond 30 executive days, we will communicate with you and your health care provider to obtain a referral to continue care.

Do you see patients virtually (i.e., telehealth)?

Yes. We provide telehealth for in-state and out-of-state clients. All our systems are HIPAA compliant. Please contact us to set your appointment.

What should you expect when you see a pelvic PT?

Good question! During your first visit, we will do a comprehensive interview. The story of your journey is crucially important for analyzing and understanding the possible sources of your physical presentation. There are number of tests and measurements that are equally important to find the “driver” behind your issues. 

Based on the presentation of symptoms and with your consent, there may be a need for internal examination and treatment. This will apply to all genders.

If you are pregnant, we will require a doctor’s written permission for internal interventions. If you are on your cycle OR if you decide that having internal work is not for you at this point of your life, we can still provide many other options to help you improve function.

What is biofeedback?

Certain equipment can be used to improve health and function by controlling certain bodily processes that normally happen involuntarily.  This information is used to modify or change abnormal responses to more normal patterns.  For the pelvic floor, increasing or decreasing muscle tone is the goal. Biofeedback along with a personalized exercise program has been shown to help greatly with different diagnoses such as fecal/urinary incontinence, constipation, pelvic pain and general conditions of core and pelvic floor disorders. However, the results vary from person to person.

What are the most common biofeedback equipment?

sEMG is a neuromuscular education tool that therapists can utilize to assess if the pelvic floor muscles are working correctly. It is a painless process that uses special external or internal sensors to measure the muscle activity by visual and sound graphs. This feedback helps both the therapist and the patient understand if there are any muscle tension, weakness or incoordination that need to be addressed.

Real-time ultrasound provided the traditional ultrasound images to assess the different layers of muscles while the patient actively contract and relax those muscles. It is also used to assess muscle activation when compared to the other side of the body. Real-time ultrasound can help to restore normal muscle function by giving immediate visual feedback.

What is PhysioWellnessVA’s payment policy?

To provide the most comprehensive care, we have chosen to practice outside of the restriction of insurance companies. Full payment is expected at the time of the service. However, we will provide all the necessary paperwork for you to submit to your insurance for reimbursement based on your individual insurance company’s “out of network” policy. Please contact your insurance company prior to your first visit to learn about your plan coverage. 

What is PhysioWellnessVA’s cancellation policy?

At least 24-hour notice for cancellation is required. Failure to do so will result in your payment method being charged the full amount of the scheduled visit. Our form with more information may be downloaded here.