FREQUENTLY Asked Questions

Pelvic floor physical therapy is a specialty that focuses on the dysfunctions in the pelvic region of the body. This includes conditions of the abdomen, back, pelvis, hips and thighs (think “bike short region”). However, your body is complex, and I take a whole-person approach and perform a full body assessment of posture, movement, strength, and flexibility. 

Maine is a direct access state, which means you are able to have physical therapy treatment without a prescription or referral from a physician.

Please note however, if you are seeking reimbursement from your health insurance provider may require a prescription.

I do not accept insurance so I can concentrate on doing what I do best, providing personalized, compassionate care for women. I am considered an out-of-network provider.

This means you pay Koru Physical Therapy and Wellness directly for service and I can give you an itemized receipt to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement upon request.

As an out-of-network provider, I do not need to inflate my costs to cover the reimbursement of PT services; meaning a lower rate for you. This model allows for longer treatment sessions, with less frequency, meaning getting your goals met with less visits and less cost to you.

The first appointment consists of a lot of talking to get a clear picture of your symptoms, your past medical history and daily habits that have to do with your symptoms. Most importantly, we discuss your goals and what you want to be able to do and why you want to do them.

The interview portion is then followed by explaining what the pelvic floor is, how it works and why you may be experiencing some of your symptoms. I will perform an assessment of your posture and strength and then perform the internal assessment of the pelvic floor. The pelvic floor assessment does not need to happen on the first visit, or ever for that matter. Read the blog post about what to expect from a pelvic floor evaluation.

You will leave the first appointment with having learned about a very important part of your body, what is going on and why you are having the symptoms you are having. You’ll have a plan to meet your goals and a few tools to begin to incorporate into your daily routine.

For pelvic floor dysfunction, an internal vaginal and/or rectal examination is the gold standard; however, this does not need to happen on the first visit or at all. You are in control of your care. I will explain everything thoroughly so you understand why the evaluation is important and ensure you are comfortable throughout your session. It is your choice to participate in any part of the assessment/treatment.

With this in mind, the pelvic floor is only one piece of the puzzle; there are many other structures of the pelvic region that are assessed externally and are often the focus for the majority of the treatments.

Yes. If your flow is light and you feel comfortable, internal pelvic floor work is still appropriate. If your flow is heavy and/or you feel uncomfortable, internal work is not necessary. There are plenty of other things we can focus on!

Wear or bring comfortable clothing you can move easily in. If you forget, that’s o.k. too, I can make pretty much anything work. Generally, you do not need to bring sneakers.

It is totally up to you. Some sessions, will be focused on relaxation and/or performing internal work, so if you feel you will be unable to relax with your child in the room, maybe it would be best to find a time that you would have childcare.

Please feel free to nurse or change a diaper while we talk (babies always have blowouts in our office, it’s a gift, really). However, I’m happy to hold a fussy baby so you can focus on yourself!

It depends. The amount of appointments needed is very individualized, and I can better answer this question after the first visit. Typically, I recommend sessions on a bi-weekly or monthly basis.

Yes! We will work together to develop a customized home program to include exercises, proper posture for your body and education on how to properly care for yourself that is realistic to your lifestyle and goals. My goal is to make it as easy as possible to integrate your home program into your everyday activities.

I ask that you cancel at least 24 hours prior to your session via phone, email or online. If you do not show for your appointment or cancel after this time, you are subject to a cancellation fee.

90min Initial Evaluation: $250

60min Follow-Up: $165

Payments are due at time of service. Cash, check, credit cards, flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) are accepted.

You will receive an itemized receipt to submit for reimbursement from your insurance provider upon request.