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Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a pelvic floor physical therapist?

  • Pelvic Floor therapists are trained to perform vaginal internals on their patients. 

  • Continued specialized training allows me to treat men, and women who need rectal care.  

  • Merging various techniques, we move beyond the classic pelvic floor, to treat the whole body.

What make me different than other healthcare providers?

  • If the pain was where you thought it was, you would have fixed it already. I treat the complete body.

  • You have access to me, by text, outside your treatment time.

  • My patient’s send me the “good, bad and different” to create a timed-stamped history of their week.

How frequently will we schedule treatments?

  • We usually meet 1 time per week, as your body needs time to relearn how to use the movement, that we gain at each treat.  All visits are 90 minutes.

How long will the treatment take?

  • Treatment is completely individualized.

  • You will feel a difference at every treatment.

  • After each treatment, you will determine, if you need further treatments.

  • I recommended a minimum of 4-8 treatments. 

Will we do an internal during our first visit?

  • I never do an internal pelvic floor exam in the first session.

  • Some pelvic floor patients never need an internal.

  • I feel that there are a variety of ways to help a pelvic floor patient, an internal pelvic floor examination is only one tool in my toolbox.

  • Together, we will constantly be re-assessing your plan of care, and together we will decide if, and when, a pelvic floor internal exam would be the most successful treatment method for your body.

  • I feel that the 12 little pelvic floor muscles cannot maintain long-term improvements, without work to the larger surrounding muscles as well. 

Why don’t you take Insurance?

  • As a cash-based practice, my patient is my only boss. 

  • If I am not amazing, no one would come back and pay me.  So, I just have to be amazing.

  • I feel that the magic happens 1 hour into our treat, and so I schedule all my patients for 90 minutes. 

  • I am not a Medicare provider. 

What payment do you take?

  • Health Saving Account (HSA)

  • Most Wellness Cards.

  • Cash, check & credit cards

Why should I choose you?

  • I am the most trained Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist in WNY.

  • In the past 7 years, I have taken 3 times the number of hours needed to maintain my license.

  • Totaling, over 330 credit hours in 7 years.

  • I am not limited by a staff maximum Continuing Education budget.

  • Being independent, I choose my coursework and pay out-of-pocket for airfare and hotels.

  • I have travelled around the country for the best courses.

  • I love my craft.

  • I was a Physical Therapist for 15 years before, I became a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist.

  • I personally know how life-changing Pelvic Floor Care can be, because I was a Pelvic Floor patient 8 years ago.  

  • The combination of so many professional techniques, makes my version of pelvic floor PT truly different, and effective!! 

  • I work very hard to coax your body back to The Real You.  Read my testimonials for more information at www.theRealYouPT.com.

Do you treat men?

  • Yes.  (For the women - Yes, men have a pelvic floor, too.) 

How can I best prepare for our fist appointment?

  • Create a full body list of issues (past & current)

  • Things that you know are different than they used to be.  Trust your gut!

  • All these items give me clues, that speed your recovery.

Can I do pelvic floor PT when I have my period?

  • Yes.

I have had medical, sexual, or physical trauma that I am concerned will affect my physical therapy treatment and ability to tolerate therapy – What should I do?

  • Take that one first step and call me to chat at (716) 861-1297.  Click here to read how Katelyn felt.

What kind of equipment do you use and do I have to buy anything?

  • My sessions are mostly hands-on with no need to purchase items.

  • My patients say I have “magic hands”.

  • Most homework is body weight and movement.

I believe that the pelvic floor is the missing link in most core musculoskeletal issues. Our modern lifestyle creates excessive sitting and modified movement patterns which continuously grow and eventually can leave us susceptible to pelvic floor issues.

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Back and Pelvic Pain

Back pain can be a early symptom before pelvic pain develops.  Pelvic pain is often due to musculoskeletal incoordination and muscular imbalances.  Both are treatable, allowing us to return to The Real You.  Imagine what is possible.

Incontinence

While leaking urine with laugh, cough, sneeze, and exercise may seem common, with the vast number of incontinence products available.   It is not normal.  These may be the first symptoms of a growing list of pelvic floor issues.

Sexual Health

Sex should be fun, enjoyable, and intimate.  Our bodies should be able to give and receive pleasure.  Together, we can improve the logistics and experience for both partners.  Because sex is an important part of life.  

Common Reasons People Seek Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

  • Female

  • Incontinence

  • Overactive Bladder

  • Pain with Penetration

  • Pelvic & Vulva Pain

  • Tight Pelvic Floor

  • Fecal Leakage

  • Infertility

  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome

  • Male

  • Pelvic Pain

  • Prostatitis

  • Erectile Dysfunction

  • Premature/Delayed Ejaculation

  • Penis Firm/Hardness

  • Infertility

  • Enlarged Prostate

  • Overactive Bladder

  • Post-Hernia Repair

Standardized Verbal Kegel Instructions are not enough:

49% had effective effort and

25% had incontinence promoting effort when taught Kegels with verbal instructions.  So, 1/4 of the people ended up making the problem worse and causing increased urine leakage.

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Pelvic Floor Health Questionnaire

(PDF available below)

Urine

Do you leak urine when you cough, sneeze, laugh or jump?                                                                 No/Yes   If yes, please explain

How frequently do you urinate during the day?                                                    1-2x / 3-4x / 5-7x / 7-10x / more than 10 times/day

Do you instantly get a sudden urge to urinate?                                                                                   No/Yes  If yes, please explain

Do you have difficulty starting your urine stream (shy bladder)?                                                           No/Yes  If yes, please explain

Do you get up to pee during the night?                   Never / Infrequently / Sometimes / 1x / 2-3x / 4+                    Age:____

Do you have problems with bedwetting, either presently or as a child?                                                No/Yes  If yes, please explain

Bowel Function

Do you have difficulty controlling your bowels/gas urges or leakage?                                                  No/Yes   If yes, please explain

Do you experience Back / Pelvic / Rectal/ Vaginal pain?                                                                     No/Yes   Circle and explain

Do you get poop on your underwear?                                                                                              No/Yes   If yes, please explain

Do you find residual poop on the toilet paper after you only pee (leaking feces)?                                  No/Yes   If yes, please explain

Sexual Function

Is Intercourse ever painful (painful sex)?                                                                                         No/Yes   If yes, please explain

Do you have reduced sexual sensation or pleasure?                                                                           No/Yes   If yes, please explain

General History

Are you (or ever been) an elite athlete?                                            Runner / Dancer / Gymnast / Body Builder / Other:______

Do you have chronic cough from Allergies / Smoking / Asthma / Other:______)?                                 No/Yes   Circle 

Have you ever been Underweight / Overweight?                                                                              No/Yes   If yes, please explain

On a scale of 1-10, how much are you troubled by these issues?
A Little    1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10    Very Concerned
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The Real You Physical Therapy – Specializing in Pelvic Floor issues and Resolving Pain that won’t HEAL
Female and Male Pelvic Floor – Chronic Back/Neck Pain – Migraines/Headaches – Hip/Knee Pain & Sciatica  TMJ=Temporomandibular Joint – Abdominal Pain & Digestive Disorders - Breathing & Sleep Issues
www.theRealYouPT.com  Please call Francie Marzec, Physical Therapist (716) 861-1297 

Click document below for printable version

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