The pelvic floor is the name for a group of muscles called the “levator ani.” They attach from the pubic bone to the tailbone to provide support to the pelvis and trunk, prevent leakage of stool and urine, and play a role in sexual and reproductive health. They are voluntary muscles, meaning we can voluntarily contract them and relax them. They also have a degree of autonomic function, meaning they respond to changes in pressure and sensations from the bladder, bowel and sexual organs. For a full guide to pelvic floor therapy, download here.

What is the pelvic floor?

As physical therapists, we treat musculoskeletal issues! This includes the pelvic floor, as it is subject to tightness/weakness/incoordination/pain, like all other muscles and tissues in the body. It is heavily influenced by movement and stress as it is intricately connected to the rest of our body and nervous system. The difference between pelvic floor PT and regular PT is our post-graduate training & education to perform internal assessments and treatments of the levator ani muscle and surrounding tissues/nerves as they relate to symptoms of dysfunction. We relate what we find internal to other musculoskeletal systems of your body for comprehensive treatment.

What do you do in pelvic floor physical therapy?

The internal exam is unlike a medical exam - we do not use speculums. We assess the levator ani musculature with one gloved finger with a goal of feeling for muscle tone, strength and coordination. Although we are trying to find the source of pain/dysfunction - our goal is not create more pain. We are trauma informed - meaning we provide thorough education of the exam and allow you to accept or decline it. If you choose to decline an internal exam or treatment, we have other options to provide you with. With pain diagnoses such as vaginismus, we do not force internal exams or treatments and progress as appropriate. Our practice is unlike traditional PT clinics - every session is in a private, peaceful room to allow internal exams and treatments as necessary. Our treatment space is designed for comfort - we use soft sheets (no paper gowns here!) and table warmers. 

Our practice is dedicated to pelvic floor physical therapy.
We dedicate our continuing education and professional development to being up to date with evidence based treatments for pelvic floor dysfunction with physical therapy. You will never be using a biofeedback machine, doing kegels only, or passive exercises/treatments. We empower our patients with extensive education regarding what is going with their bodies and how to fix it through treatments we perform and prescribe. We meet many patients who have been given exercises without clear instruction for why/how - we believe every exercise needs purpose. For example, busy moms can strengthen their pelvic floor by just learning how to engage their glutes properly with lifting their children.
Our assessments get to the bottom of the root cause issue.
While internal exams are the foundation for knowing the pelvic floor issue, we need to know why the pelvic floor is the way it is. We assess the spine, lower extremity, upper extremity, head/neck and trunk as the muscles connect to the pelvis and stability of the pelvis relies on joints above and below. We also address the nervous system and relative lifestyle factors to stress, especially in cases of chronic and persistent pain. 
You gain a collaborate team for healing, who truly care. 
We understand how lost many feel when it comes to finding providers who understand pelvic floor issues. If you are not improving after a period of time or we see signs of issues other than musculoskeletal, it is our job and duty to refer out to others who can help you. If pelvic PT is not where you need to be, we work with you to help you find vetted providers who can assist. 

Why should I choose Break Free?

What is the internal exam?

Is pelvic floor physical therapy covered by insurance?

Any treatment you receive from us is skilled physical therapy and reimbursable via out-of-network benefits for outpatient PT. Insurance coverage depends on deductible requirements and medical necessity, no matter where care is provided. We do not bill insurance, but do provide superbills (claim forms with diagnosis & treatment codes) that can be submitted to your insurance company for possible reimbursement. We have created a guide with more information here:  Download the Guide Here. Payment for our services is due at each appointment via credit/debit card, cash, check, FSA or HSA cards.
 

Childcare is not a barrier to care here!

Children are welcome to sessions with you! We have age appropriate toys to keep the littles entertained, or they can be apart of session to train, especially if your symptoms are triggered by carrying and lifting your little ones.

Can I bring my baby/child?

We are sensitive to the fact that our services require an upfront charge for sessions and want to offer the following if cost is a deciding factor for your care:

1. Our purpose of being out-of-network is to provide the OPTIMAL amount of time for successful treatment.  We look at the whole body - from the pelvis to the trunk to the upper/lower body as needed to determine WHY the pelvic floor is dysfunctional. Insurance typically only approves "one body part at a time" for traditional PT, limiting time & treatment methods. 

2. We are careful to keep our session charges affordable & offer payment options. We find that our upfront charges are often less than bills received from other clinics if insurance denies or limits coverage. 

3. Out of pocket costs can be reduced by out of network reimbursement by insurance directly to you and after insurance deductibles have been met. You will never receive additional bills from our office for any treatment & care rendered.

4. Pelvic floor physical therapy is cost-effective when compared to the cost of other treatment options like medications, surgery, kegel chairs and other devices, and specialty medical visits. These options typically do not offer clear answers nor long term solutions and symptoms return or persist.

 Pelvic floor physical therapy requires a specialist physical therapist who is completely focused on your care, looking within and outside of the pelvis for all contributing factors to dysfunction. We are committed to this excellence of care and collaborating with you for long term resolution.

How often do I need to come in?

Traditional PT typically requires 2-3 weekly visits. We are not like traditional PT - because we see our patients at a 1 minimum of 1 hour per session, we see patients once per week. Most patients can plan to be seen on a weekly basis for the first month of care. Frequency is modified based on diagnosis, severity of pain and progress - many patients progress to monthly visits as symptoms improve. Our goal of every session, including the first, is to have you leave feeling better than you felt when you walked in.