FAQ
WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR FIRST VISIT?
The first visit will take approximately 60 minutes in a clean, private treatment room. A certified pelvic health physical therapist will perform a thorough review with you in order to determine a treatment plan that is best orientated towards your rehabilitation goals. In addition, your therapist will address surrounding joints, soft tissue, and muscle complaints of the hip and spine that are commonly associated with pelvic floor dysfunction. Part of your examination may include an internal manual exam to most accurately assess your pelvic floor muscles and give you specific recommendations for exercise. A complete evaluation, both internal and external, is recommended to confirm the type of disorder, severity and cause.
Typically, patients undergo treatment 1-2 times per week for 6-12 weeks. Frequency and length of treatment may vary depending on diagnosis and other factors.
At NWPT, our therapists are sensitive and respectful to your needs. We provide a comfortable environment to give you the one-on-one attention you deserve.
What is the Pelvic floor?
The pelvic floor refers to the muscles that support your reproductive and urinary tract, including your bladder, uterus, and rectum, also wrapping around the urethra, vagina (in females), and rectum. These muscles attach to your pelvis and to your tailbone and sacrum. In addition to providing support, they also help you control bladder and bowel function.
When these muscles aren’t working as they should, they can cause pain and other symptoms that interfere with daily functioning. Physical therapy can help ease pain and associated symptoms, getting you back to normal functioning.
Is Pelvic pain normal?
No. Pain within the pelvis is not normal. It is not something you have to live with. It’s also not normal to have back pain, pelvic pain or tail bone pain during pregnancy or following pregnancy. These are issues that can be treated by pelvic floor therapy and not something that a person has to accept.
Is it normal to leak urine when I cough or sneeze?
No. It is never normal to leak urine or feces when you sneeze, cough, jump or perform any sort of physical activity. It is also never normal to experience these things during your everyday life. Pelvic floor physical therapy can help address these issues.
Can’t I just do Kegels for incontinence?
No. Your incontinence may be a result of weakness, but poor pelvic floor function (such as leakage) can be due to coordination issues (muscles not working together well or working at the wrong time), fatigue, overactive pelvic floor muscles or other common problems. An evaluation from your pelvic health physical therapist will give you targeted treatments and improved results. If not appropriate for your diagnosis, Kegels can make your problem worse.
Will therapy be painful?
No. Healthy muscles should not be painful to touch. You should only feel light pressure during your external and internal assessment. If pain happens during an exam, you should inform your therapist immediately. This helps your therapist understand your symptoms, and your therapist can adjust the exam accordingly to respect them. As always, you can ask your therapist to stop the exam if you are having trouble tolerating the symptoms.
Do I need to do an internal examination?
No. If you prefer, we can treat you by doing an external examination only. However, an internal vaginal or rectal examination gives us the most accurate information about what is causing your symptoms. In order for us to fully understand what is causing your symptoms and prescribe the right exercises, we must first complete a comprehensive examination.
I am a new mom. Can I bring my baby to my appointment?
Yes, you are of course welcome to bring your baby! However, you may find that you can focus better on treatment if you are able to find childcare during your appointment.
I’m pregnant, Is it safe to come to Pelvic floor physical therapy?
Yes. Low back pain, round ligament pain, sacral misalignment or sacroiliac joint dysfunction are all common conditions affecting pregnant women. We don’t do internal exams on pregnant patients, there is so much we can still accomplish externally. We will also work on posture, core stabilization, strengthening and lengthening of your muscles, and depending your knowledge and experience, we may also discuss appropriate birthing positions and exercises that will make labor easier and more tolerable for your body.
Can I come to my appointment if I have my period?
Yes. Menstruation does not affect pelvic floor muscle treatment in any way and can often decrease the discomfort you may normally experience during your period. If you do not wish to have any internal work done during this time, please let your therapist know.
How long are the appointments?
Your first appointment may last 60 to 75 minutes for all your questions to be answered and to allow your therapist to understand your symptoms. After the evaluation, you can expect your sessions to last 45 to 60 minutes.
What should I wear?
Wear comfortable clothing that you can move in easily.
How long until I see results?
With consistent work and treatment, you should begin to see changes in your symptoms in about 2-4 weeks. Every person is different! Most patients are seen for six to twelve weeks.
Can my partner come?
Yes. Your partner is welcome to come and support you during your appointments.
Are there private rooms available?
Yes. Private rooms are always available for patients. We respect your privacy, and we want you to feel completely comfortable so you can focus on healing.
Do I need a prescription from my doctor to come to Pelvic floor physical therapy?
No. You no longer need a referral from your medical doctor to see a physical therapist in IL – you now have what we call “direct access” to our services and you can just call to make your appointment.
The only exception to this rule is if you have never had a gynecological exam: in that case, we do ask that you visit your gynecologist before starting physical therapy.
If you did get a referral, please bring it with you to your first appointment.
NOTE: though you can see your PT without a referral, some insurance companies will *only* reimburse you if you received a referral from your medical doctor. Please contact your insurance company prior to your first visit if this is a concern.
Will insurance cover this therapy?
Pelvic health therapy is considered a physical therapy service, and coverage will be consistent with that. When you call to schedule your appointment, our office staff will check with your insurance to see what physical therapy services are covered, and this will be fully explained to you before beginning therapy. We accept Medicare & all PPO insurances. We also offer self-pay/cash based services. Please call our Office for more information.
For More Information
We offer FREE phone consultations to help patients feel more comfortable before an in-person visit.
To ask questions, setup a FREE telephone consultation or to make an in-person appointment, call us at (847) 517-190
The first visit will take approximately 60 minutes in a clean, private treatment room. A certified pelvic health physical therapist will perform a thorough review with you in order to determine a treatment plan that is best orientated towards your rehabilitation goals. In addition, your therapist will address surrounding joints, soft tissue, and muscle complaints of the hip and spine that are commonly associated with pelvic floor dysfunction. Part of your examination may include an internal manual exam to most accurately assess your pelvic floor muscles and give you specific recommendations for exercise. A complete evaluation, both internal and external, is recommended to confirm the type of disorder, severity and cause.
Typically, patients undergo treatment 1-2 times per week for 6-12 weeks. Frequency and length of treatment may vary depending on diagnosis and other factors.
At NWPT, our therapists are sensitive and respectful to your needs. We provide a comfortable environment to give you the one-on-one attention you deserve.
What is the Pelvic floor?
The pelvic floor refers to the muscles that support your reproductive and urinary tract, including your bladder, uterus, and rectum, also wrapping around the urethra, vagina (in females), and rectum. These muscles attach to your pelvis and to your tailbone and sacrum. In addition to providing support, they also help you control bladder and bowel function.
When these muscles aren’t working as they should, they can cause pain and other symptoms that interfere with daily functioning. Physical therapy can help ease pain and associated symptoms, getting you back to normal functioning.
Is Pelvic pain normal?
No. Pain within the pelvis is not normal. It is not something you have to live with. It’s also not normal to have back pain, pelvic pain or tail bone pain during pregnancy or following pregnancy. These are issues that can be treated by pelvic floor therapy and not something that a person has to accept.
Is it normal to leak urine when I cough or sneeze?
No. It is never normal to leak urine or feces when you sneeze, cough, jump or perform any sort of physical activity. It is also never normal to experience these things during your everyday life. Pelvic floor physical therapy can help address these issues.
Can’t I just do Kegels for incontinence?
No. Your incontinence may be a result of weakness, but poor pelvic floor function (such as leakage) can be due to coordination issues (muscles not working together well or working at the wrong time), fatigue, overactive pelvic floor muscles or other common problems. An evaluation from your pelvic health physical therapist will give you targeted treatments and improved results. If not appropriate for your diagnosis, Kegels can make your problem worse.
Will therapy be painful?
No. Healthy muscles should not be painful to touch. You should only feel light pressure during your external and internal assessment. If pain happens during an exam, you should inform your therapist immediately. This helps your therapist understand your symptoms, and your therapist can adjust the exam accordingly to respect them. As always, you can ask your therapist to stop the exam if you are having trouble tolerating the symptoms.
Do I need to do an internal examination?
No. If you prefer, we can treat you by doing an external examination only. However, an internal vaginal or rectal examination gives us the most accurate information about what is causing your symptoms. In order for us to fully understand what is causing your symptoms and prescribe the right exercises, we must first complete a comprehensive examination.
I am a new mom. Can I bring my baby to my appointment?
Yes, you are of course welcome to bring your baby! However, you may find that you can focus better on treatment if you are able to find childcare during your appointment.
I’m pregnant, Is it safe to come to Pelvic floor physical therapy?
Yes. Low back pain, round ligament pain, sacral misalignment or sacroiliac joint dysfunction are all common conditions affecting pregnant women. We don’t do internal exams on pregnant patients, there is so much we can still accomplish externally. We will also work on posture, core stabilization, strengthening and lengthening of your muscles, and depending your knowledge and experience, we may also discuss appropriate birthing positions and exercises that will make labor easier and more tolerable for your body.
Can I come to my appointment if I have my period?
Yes. Menstruation does not affect pelvic floor muscle treatment in any way and can often decrease the discomfort you may normally experience during your period. If you do not wish to have any internal work done during this time, please let your therapist know.
How long are the appointments?
Your first appointment may last 60 to 75 minutes for all your questions to be answered and to allow your therapist to understand your symptoms. After the evaluation, you can expect your sessions to last 45 to 60 minutes.
What should I wear?
Wear comfortable clothing that you can move in easily.
How long until I see results?
With consistent work and treatment, you should begin to see changes in your symptoms in about 2-4 weeks. Every person is different! Most patients are seen for six to twelve weeks.
Can my partner come?
Yes. Your partner is welcome to come and support you during your appointments.
Are there private rooms available?
Yes. Private rooms are always available for patients. We respect your privacy, and we want you to feel completely comfortable so you can focus on healing.
Do I need a prescription from my doctor to come to Pelvic floor physical therapy?
No. You no longer need a referral from your medical doctor to see a physical therapist in IL – you now have what we call “direct access” to our services and you can just call to make your appointment.
The only exception to this rule is if you have never had a gynecological exam: in that case, we do ask that you visit your gynecologist before starting physical therapy.
If you did get a referral, please bring it with you to your first appointment.
NOTE: though you can see your PT without a referral, some insurance companies will *only* reimburse you if you received a referral from your medical doctor. Please contact your insurance company prior to your first visit if this is a concern.
Will insurance cover this therapy?
Pelvic health therapy is considered a physical therapy service, and coverage will be consistent with that. When you call to schedule your appointment, our office staff will check with your insurance to see what physical therapy services are covered, and this will be fully explained to you before beginning therapy. We accept Medicare & all PPO insurances. We also offer self-pay/cash based services. Please call our Office for more information.
For More Information
We offer FREE phone consultations to help patients feel more comfortable before an in-person visit.
To ask questions, setup a FREE telephone consultation or to make an in-person appointment, call us at (847) 517-190