The treatments we use.
Pelvic floor PT isn't one technique — it's a clinical toolkit. Your plan combines whichever of these your body actually needs, in the right order, at the right pace. Below is every modality we use, in plain language.
Physical Therapy Evaluation
It's critical to thoroughly review as many of the factors that may have brought you to seeking care — your medical history, current and past symptoms, diet and exercise habits, and more. It's just as important to complete a physical evaluation, including but not limited to postural assessment, functional movement evaluation, orthopedic and neurological screening, and as appropriate an internal and external pelvic examination.
In truth, your evaluation is ongoing. Each session includes assessment of current symptoms and conditions and how they relate to pre-treatment, initial evaluation, your last visit, and so forth.
Manual Therapeutic Techniques
We use a gentle, hands-on approach to reduce tension and pain, improve coordination, and retrain muscle function. A key part of manual work is recognizing its limitations — primarily that it's a passive treatment.
True recovery empowers you to address issues as well. That's why all manual techniques must also be supported with instruction in self-care, exercise, and functional training — to allow your body to adapt and to ensure your progression toward independence.
Dry Needling
Dry needling (also labeled FDN, IDN, or trigger point DN) may sound intimidating, but applied appropriately it's not so scary. It's the use of very fine filament needles that interact with muscles and nerves to reduce pain and tension — and in some cases, help reduce inflammatory processes.
Conditions that respond well to dry needling include orthopedic pain (neck, back, pelvic), headaches, jaw pain, and other restrictions like post-surgical scars, hamstring tightness, or frozen shoulder.
Exercise & Activity Training
Whether directed toward strengthening, tension reduction, or optimizing recruitment patterns, exercises and activities are vital to supporting the rest of clinical treatment.
We use "activities" in addition to "exercises" deliberately — for many people with pain or hypermobility, traditional exercises can be difficult, while others are ready to return to high-level training like running or CrossFit. Wherever you land on that spectrum, there are many activities you can do to reduce pain or tension. Our job is helping to build the right plan for your body.
Home Treatment Program
Clinical visits are necessary, but much of the program rests in self-care and independent training. Self-efficacy is a primary goal, and your confidence in being able to regain control is essential.
Forms of home treatment may include: educational reading and review, manual techniques, exercises and activities, mindfulness, behavioral training (bladder retraining, dietary and nutritional modification), and sexual health training to progress toward your goals.
Pattern Retraining
Also known as Neurologic Re-education.
Retraining of pelvic function involves improved coordination with the rest of the body for safe and pain-free movement. All regions and tissues are involved — muscles, connective tissue, nerves, bones, joints, and organs.
There are several methods for retraining movement and appropriate recruitment of muscles for improved function. One powerful tool we use for retraining neuromuscular activation patterns (Neurac) is Redcord — a suspension-based training system designed specifically for restoring functional movement and rebuilding strength after pain or injury. It's part of why our clinic looks the way it does, and part of how patients progress faster.
Self-Care Options
A big focus of all therapy is making sure you feel confident in self-care. While we cover plenty of home exercises, sometimes additional tools are part of the plan. Here are some options that may be included.
Pelvic trainers, dilators, wands & weights
Self-treatment for pelvic conditions may involve internal tools. We'll instruct you in the correct, most effective use — and only recommend tools that match what you actually need.
At-home TENS units
When appropriate, a personal TENS unit (small, portable, uses electrical stimulation to target pain) may be added to your home program. In combination with in-office treatment, TENS can meaningfully reduce pain for some patients.
Bladder & bowel diary
If you're having any urinary or bowel dysfunction, chances are we'll have you fill out a log. A diary tracks intake, output, and other factors so we can better understand your daily routines and tailor care.
Belts & corrective devices
In certain cases — like round ligament pain during pregnancy — an SI joint support belt or another support can help reduce pain and pressure throughout your day. We collaborate with you on which supports actually help outside of the clinic.
You won't use all of these.
Your plan will combine whichever modalities your body actually needs. That's decided during your evaluation and refined every visit after. If you're curious whether a specific treatment is right for you, the easiest path is to ask.