How many times do you think someone Googles “pelvic floor specialist near me?”

The answer: A LOT!

Think about it! How many times have you gone to Google to look up something “near me?” We all do it, and we all do it all the time.

So you look up a pelvic floor specialist near you and then what? Google pops up a list of options. The first one is typically a Sponsored suggestion. Do you click it? Did they pay to be there? Does that mean they are good? But is it an ad? Should I just scroll by? (welcome to my ADHD brain thoughts when I use Google)

Okay so you scroll past the first one (don’t worry they will show up again in the list) and start to look at the remaining options. Some are big corporations, some are small clinics, some are just solo provider names. But how do you choose which practice or therapist to see?!

Well, lucky for you we are going to dive in and answer the question of how to find the best "pelvic floor specialist near me!"

Let’s assume you’ve already put “pelvic floor specialist near me” into Google and found a list of results. You click through their websites, look at the photos of their therapists, maybe you filled out the contact form on a few and avoiding having to call the others. But what should you be looking for when you click through these websites? How do you know the providers are any good? 

Let’s start with the basics:

What kind of training did their therapists have? 

In each providers’ bio you should be able to see where they have done their pelvic floor training. Be on the lookout for names like The American Physical Therapy Association Academy of Pelvic Health, Herman & Wallace, Pelvic PT Rising, Brooks Institute of Higher Learning, Core Exercise Solutions, Essential Pelvic Health, or The Functional Pelvis, to name a few. 

If it isn’t listed, just ask!

Next you want to know a little more about how the clinic works. Give them a call or send a quick email to find out the following 8 questions.

1. How long is the evaluation and follow up appointments?

You want to look for clinics that offer 60 minutes or more for the evaluation appointment and around 60 minutes for follow up appointments. 45 minutes may be okay BUT anything less than that and you will not have enough time to receive the care you deserve!

2. How often will I be seen?

This is totally dependent on each patient, however be aware of clinics that only see you once a month or less, especially when you are first getting started. In the beginning you should be seen weekly to every other week (but weekly truly is best!). If a clinic is so busy that they can only see you every 6 weeks or so, I would question your ability to actually get better due to their infrequent care.

3. Do you perform an internal pelvic floor assessment?

While you should always have the option to either consent or defer an internal assessment, being able to perform an internal pelvic floor assessment is a vital skill set for your provider to have when advertising that they treat pelvic floor issues.

4. Do you perform pelvic floor assessments in standing?

We don't live our lives on our backs! Most of the activities that our patients report their symptoms are worse tend to be in standing, squatting, jumping, or some other form of on their feet. So if you are struggling with pelvic pressure, heaviness, prolapse, or pain that is exacerbated in standing, it is important that your therapist perform an assessment in standing.

5. Do you do more than just kegels?

Be cautious of clinics, especially ones that are associated with your GYN office, that will only give you kegels as an exercise and send you on your way. Pelvic floor therapy is WAY more than just kegels, and honestly for many patients kegels can make their symptoms worse.

6. Do you use things like biofeedback consistently for my care?

Doctors love to write "with biofeedback" on their referrals for pelvic floor therapy. But what does that mean? Biofeedback is typically a device that you get hooked up to and left to watch the lights on a screen grow taller or smaller to "tell" you that your pelvic floor is overactive or underactive. From there it is your job to get your pelvic floor to do the opposite, often without any guidance. It isn't a red flag if your provider uses biofeedback occasionally, and with constant supervision and cuing, however it should not be the whole session, ever session!

7. Will I be seeing the same therapist each visit?

You should know ahead of time if the clinic you are considering working with will keep you with your same provider each session or if you will be bounced around from therapist to therapist. You should always be given a heads up if your therapist is unavailable and be able to consent to being treated by a different provider before your appointment is scheduled. 

8. Will I be working with anyone other than my therapist for my sessions?

Especially in bigger practices and hospital-based settings, it is not uncommon for a therapist to be working with multiple patients at one time. This means you may spend part of your treatment session working with a rehab aide or tech, who have little to no training in physical therapy care. This is not skilled care!

Finding a Pelvic Floor Therapist Near You
In the event that you stumbled upon this blog during your search for a pelvic floor therapist and want some help locating one near you, check out this list of Pelvic Pride's trusted providers around the country:

Pelvic Rehab Directory by Herman & Wallace
This directory is associated with one of the top pelvic health educational institutes. Practitioners listed here have completed at least one course through Herman & Wallace.

You are able to search providers by location or name using this directory. 

Pelvic Global Directory
This directory is part of a professional membership which allows providers access to continuing education courses, clinical handouts, professional anatomy illustrations, and more. Practitioners listed here are committed to continued knowledge and clinical growth.

You are able to search providers by location as well as specialty and condition by clicking the gear icon on the right, next to the "Search" button.

Pelvic PT Rising Provider Map
This directory is associated with one of the top pelvic health educational groups. Any pelvic health provider is able to join this map. To access the map either clinic on the map itself or the "View on Google Maps" button.

You can sort this map by providers who accept insurance versus cash-based clinics.

Good luck & happy pelvic therapist searching!

Where to find treatment in Maryland

At Pelvic Pride Physical Therapy & Wellness, we specialize in the treatment of ALL pelvic floor conditions! We are conveniently located in the Federal Hill neighborhood in Baltimore MD. Fill out our contact form & our Patient Care Specialist will reach out to you ASAP!

Next on Your Reading List

• The Ultimate Guide to Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy: Everything You Want or Need to Know
• The Four Pillars of Pelvic Health
• Pelvic Floor Resources