Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy is a specialty area of physical therapy that addresses the muscles, bones and joints, connective tissues, and nerves in and around the pelvis. This area contributes to bowel and bladder control, supports abdominal and pelvic organs, aids in posture and breathing, has a sexual function, and supports the low back.
What can Pelvic Floor Therapy help with?
There is a list of common diagnoses under the “what we treat” tab. In general, PFPT helps with bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction, as well as pregnancy and postpartum conditions.
What should I expect from a virtual session?
Virtual sessions include a comprehensive interview that includes your history, concerns, and symptoms. This allows us to understand your story and specific problems and goals. It allows us to get to the root of the problem and not simply treat the symptoms. We can then create an individualized, evidenced based plan that may include a variety of treatments like education, behavioral modification, and specific exercises. We will not ask to see your genitalia on the virtual session. Virtual sessions are 45 minutes in duration.
What should I expect from an in person session?
In person sessions include a comprehensive interview that covers your history, concerns, and symptoms. This allows us to understand your story and specific problems. It allows us to get to the root of the problem and not simply treat the symptoms. We can then create an individualized, evidenced based plan that may include a variety of treatments like education, behavioral modification, manual therapy, and specific exercises.
An assessment will include a postural, hip, and low back examination. There is usually also a need for an internal vaginal muscle exam to get a more comprehensive look at the strength, endurance, coordination tone, and integrity of the pelvic muscles.
Do I need a referral to make an appointment?
In most states, including Arkansas, you do not need a referral in order to see a physical therapist for an initial evaluation.
If your therapist feels you need an additional medical examination or if your state requires that you see a physician after a certain amount of time, we will encourage you to see your physician or recommend one.
Do you take insurance?
Physical Therapy is a covered benefit of most major insurance carriers.
Arkansas Pelvic Health/Peak Performance Physical Therapy is currently in network with Aetna, Ambetter, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Medicare, and Qualchoice. We are continually adding new insurance companies and are happy to work with you to verify your insurance benefits.
Your financial responsibility is dependent upon your specific insurance plan benefits. You might owe:
· a copay (a fixed amount of money that you pay for a healthcare service)
· a coinsurance (a percentage of the total cost of a healthcare service)
· a deductible (an amount of money you must pay before your health insurance plan starts to share costs)
· OR a combination of these options
Generally, if you have a deductible that applies to physical therapy, each appointment will cost between $120 and $200 until your deductible is met. If you have met your deductible, or if your deductible does not apply to physical therapy, you may only be responsible for a copay or coinsurance, usually between $4 and $38.
We are purposefully not in network with a few major insurance carriers because of their limitations on therapy. We do have a self pay option and can provide a superbill for you to submit to your insurance provider for out of network benefits.
For questions about your specific policy, please contact our billing specialist at admin@arkansaspelvichealth.com.
What forms of payment do you take?
To pay from home, credit cards and HSA/FSA cards can be submitted through our secure patient portal.
Are your services only for women?
No, men have pelvic pain and issues too. Pelvic pain in men is not uncommon. 8-10% of men experience chronic pelvic pain.
The symptoms of myofascial pelvic pain in men can include the following:
· Pain (sharp, dull, achey, burning, pulling, etc) localized to the lower abdomen, hips, buttock, anus, perineal body, penis, scrotum, testicles, and/or tailbone.
· Changes in urination, including urinary urgency/frequency, pain with urination, difficulty starting a urine stream, intermittent or slow urine stream, dribbling after urination and/or urinary leakage.
· Changes in bowel function including constipation, difficulty emptying bowel movements, pain during and/or after bowel movements.
· Changes in sexual function including premature ejaculation or erectile dysfunction and/or pain related to sexual function.
Read more about men's pelvic health here.
Can I bring my baby?
Absolutely. We can help hold the baby, we have baby work out equipment, and we will use the time to assess your body mechanics holding, lifting, and nursing the baby. They are also the perfect weight when we start weight training. Old kiddos are welcome to stay in the waiting room during your session.
What if I'm on my period on the day I have an appointment?
We are absolutely able to treat patients during menstruation and could also focus only on external techniques and exercises during that particular session. However, if this is something you are not comfortable with, we can reschedule your appointment to a more appropriate time. In our setting, periods are just another day on the job, like a dentist seeing teeth.
When should I come after birth?
We like to see patients for their first postpartum session between 4-6 weeks after birth. You are welcome to bring your baby to the session. It's never too late to come to therapy, even if it's decades after the birth!
Do you treat kids?
Yes, we generally see kids ages 7 and older for pelvic conditions like bedwetting, day time leakage, leakage while laughing, bowel accidents, and constipation.
By 4 years of age, 90% of children have gained control over their bowel and bladder and have very few accidents. For the remaining 10%, bowel and bladder issues can present many challenges for the individual and the family. This is often embarrassing and causing anxiety, impacting friendships, behaviors, and the ability to participate in social events/sleepovers/sports.
During the first session, medical history, symptoms, and goals will be discussed. The consultation may include examination of your child's strength, range of motion, muscle flexibility, posture, movement patterns, and pelvic and core stability. If needed, an external non-invasive examination of the pelvic floor muscle will be completed to assess function of the pelvic muscles.The information gathered will help determine what treatment interventions to include in the plan to get your child better.
Do you fit pessaries?
Yes, three of our staff were among the first in the US to get trained in pessaries in 2022, after the APTA released a statement endorsing pessary fitting and management provided by qualified pelvic health therapists. See their official statement here.