Our pelvic health specialist will take you through a thorough history (a series of questions) that dive deep into the cause of your symptoms. Since the pelvic floor plays a large part in urinary, bowel, and sexual function, you can expect questions related to these topics. This allows your therapist to get a good idea as to how the pelvic floor is functioning and to determine if the symptoms you are experiencing are in fact stemming from the pelvic floor or from somewhere else. Another unique part of the pelvic health evaluation is the internal assessment. In most cases, it is appropriate to perform an internal examination in order to directly assess how the pelvic floor muscles and structures are functioning. This assessment involves one gloved finger inserted in the vagina or rectum and the appropriate assessment of the pelvic floor structures.

We understand the internal examination can bring on anxiety and fear for a lot of people. Our pelvic health specialist determines the appropriateness of the internal examination on a case-by-case basis. The internal examination does provide vital information as to how the pelvic floor is functioning, since it is the only way to determine exactly what is happening. However, your comfort and safety are most important to us. Talk with your pelvic health physical therapist to determine whether or not an internal examination is appropriate for you.

In most cases, YES! It has been reported that 93-95% of those with low back pain also have pelvic floor dysfunction. We’ve found that often, the pelvic floor is the “missing puzzle piece” for things like chronic low back pain, hip pain, SI joint pain, pubic symphysis pain, and so much more. The pelvis/pelvic floor is the center of the whole body, which means it has a lot of influence on how other structures work! We always suggest that if you have any aches/pains anywhere in the body AND you have pelvic floor related symptoms, it is best to visit a pelvic health physical therapist for an in-depth evaluation.

This completely depends on your symptoms and the findings of the initial evaluation. Some people see improvements in as little as 4 visits, some need much more time for their body to adapt and learn the new patterns taught during our sessions. With that being said, the average amount of visits it takes to treat someone with pelvic floor dysfunctions is around 8 visits, with 6 visits for less complex cases and 10 or more for more complex cases.

At this time, Dr. Alexis is specializing in treating pelvic health conditions in women and vulva owners only. Dr. Alexis does treat all genders for orthopedic conditions, and would be happy to make a referral to other local pelvic health specialists who treat men and penis owners.

At Absolute Kinetics, we believe in helping you find ways to continue doing what you love. Even if that means we modify the activity, we understand that maintaining involvement in your passion is vital for physical and mental wellbeing. One of the main benefits in working with our therapists is that we have the flexibility and time to tailor your sessions to exactly what you need to reach your goals.

There are many benefits to looking for an out-of-network physical therapist. For pelvic health, it is even more beneficial because a lot of what we treat (painful sex, painful or inability to orgasm, etc) is often not covered by insurance. By practicing under an out-of-network model, we are able to work on your goals the way they should be addressed, not based on whether or not an insurance company will approve. Another benefit is that we have one-on-one sessions where you are with our pelvic health physical therapist the entire time. In this setting, you truly get what you pay for and care can 100% be tailored to exactly what you need.