What Can I Expect At My First Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Appointment?
Due to the sensitive nature of our work as Pelvic Floor Physical Therapists, it is common for people to have feelings of anxiety or even fear when they think about pelvic floor physical therapy and what it may entail. However, here at Down There Docs, there is nothing we aim for more than creating an environment of trust and safety - one in which informed consent is key and the power to stop at any point is always firmly in the hands of our clients.
I am going to break down exactly what that first appointment looks like with us - so that you can know exactly what to expect!
The majority of our clients have a conversation with us before scheduling their first appointment. It is called a Discovery Visit and is something we offer to everyone free of charge! It can be a phone call, Zoom meeting, or even a meet up at a local coffee shop
(depending on each therapist’s availability). During that Discovery Visit, you are able to talk with the therapist and ask any questions you may have. It’s a wonderful way to get to know each other before the first appointment!
The first appointment is called the Initial Evaluation and it is typically scheduled for 90 minutes long in order to allow us enough time to thoroughly assess, evaluate, and educate on what we find.
Here’s a specific breakdown of what that initial evaluation looks like!
A Conversation
The first thing you’ll do with your Pelvic Floor PT is have an in depth conversation about your specific case and the symptoms you are experiencing. Your therapist will ask you questions such as when did this all start? What makes it better? What makes it worse?
What you are experiencing will determine the specific questions your PT will ask you. Don’t be surprised by the amount of questions we may ask! We like to get a full picture of what is going on as it helps lead our examination and figure out exactly what is causing your symptoms.
Orthopedic Assessment
After we are done with all the questions, we will move on to a thorough Orthopedic assessment. Here at Down There Docs, we always look at the full body. We know it’s all connected, so we take a look at everything! Your pelvic floor is affected by your full body - from the way your foot strikes the ground to the tension you hold in your jaw. So we look at everything from head to toe and in between. This involves looking at your posture, balance, range of motion, strength, flexibility, functional movements, and more!
After we’ve completed our Orthopedic assessment (which is typically the longest part of the evaluation), we move on to the Pelvic Floor Assessment.
Pelvic Floor Assessment
I want to make it very clear that we never perform a pelvic floor assessment if you do not give us full informed consent. There are many ways we can still assess and know what is going on even without this part.
Each clinician takes their time to first explain what the pelvic floor assessment entails before performing the assessment itself. We only move forward per your comfort level and consent. The assessment can range anywhere from visual observation only to a full assessment with gentle internal palpation and testing of muscle strength, endurance, coordination, and tone. And that’s it! The pelvic floor assessment is usually the quickest part of the whole evaluation, as by that time, we are usually just confirming what we already know!
Putting It All Together
The next part of the Initial Evaluation is putting it all together. Your therapist will explain to you what they found and most importantly, how they are going to address what’s going on! One of the most important aspects of the Initial Evaluation is the education that is given throughout. Depending on what you are coming in for, the education can be anything from proper breathing techniques to the right type of lubricant, posture, ergonomic considerations, breastfeeding positions, toileting techniques, etc.! During this time, you may also be taught certain specific exercises your therapist would like you to begin performing.
Treatment
Depending on time, the final part of the Initial Evaluation may include any treatment techniques that are warranted on that first visit! This may include breath work, manual therapy, therapeutic exercises, or certain positioning techniques.
And that’s it! From there, your therapist will talk with you about how many visits they recommend and your Plan of Care will begin!
If you are currently experiencing pelvic floor symptoms, please know that there is hope! If you have any specific questions, please schedule a free Discovery Visit today. We’d love to talk with you and be a part of your journey
