Pelvic floor Physical Therapy is a specialization within traditional physical therapy that focuses on management of the pelvis. Treatment typically involves examining the urinary, reproductive, and gastro-intestinal systems, bones, muscles, and joints of the pelvis, and assessing for dysfunction. Therapists evaluate pelvic dysfunction by utilizing a holistic approach to assess the entire person and using our knowledge of all body systems to create treatment plans that include exercise, modalities, manual therapy, coordination training, education, behavior/lifestyle management, and working with other healthcare providers to create an individualized plan, tailored to your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Riverside's therapists evaluate pelvic dysfunction by utilizing a holistic approach to assess the entire person and using our knowledge of all body systems to create treatment plans that include exercise, modalities, manual therapy, coordination training, education, behavior/lifestyle management, and working with other healthcare providers to create an individualized plan, tailored to your needs. Pelvic floor therapy can help address:
- Bowel or bladder leakage
- Bowel or bladder frequency
- Bowel or bladder urgency
- Urinary retention/incomplete emptying
- Constipation
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome
- Hemorrhoids
- Symptoms of Menopause
- Interstitial Cystitis
- Pelvic Pain or Trauma (including, but not limited to)
- PCOS
- Endometriosis
- Adenomyosis
- Pregnancy
- Post-partum
- Prostatitis
- Benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Lichens sclerosis and/or planus
- Sexual dysfunction (including, but not limited to)
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Decreased Sexual Desire and/or Sensation
- Difficulty with Orgasm
- Pain with Sexual Activity
- Hip or back pain that has not responded to “traditional” PT
- See Cozean Pelvic Dysfunction Screening
- Pelvic Prolapse
- Cystocele
- Enterocele
- Rectocele
- Uterine prolapse
- Vaginal prolapse
- Postoperative care (prostatectomy, endometrial excision, hysterectomy, prolapse repair, post-colostomy, gender affirming care)
The first visit (evaluation) will consist of an in-depth review of your health history in a private treatment room to allow you time to get comfortable with your therapist, decide if follow up visits are appropriate, and develop a treatment plan together. The evaluation usually includes an evaluation of the strength and flexibility of the muscles around the pelvis. Pelvic floor physical therapists have advanced training in examination techniques that involve touching the muscles of the pelvic floor from within the vagina or rectum. The therapist will discuss these evaluation techniques with you and together you can decide if these tests are necessary and relevant for your condition. Ensuring your privacy and comfort are our priority.
Follow-up visits may include education, exercise, and/or manual therapy. Our patients generally follow up for a total of 2-10 visits over the span of weeks to months. But, no two patients are alike, and no two plans are the same. Care plans are a collaboration between providers and patients to meet goals that are relevant to you.
Our Team
We are proud to have an array of highly trained pelvic PT providers who bring unique treatment styles and professional passions to the table to better serve the diverse patient population. The following is a list of providers who warmly invite you to learn more about them whether you are thinking about scheduling or have already booked your first appointment.
Katie Tahamtan PT, DPT, OCS
Physical Therapist, Pelvic Floor Team Lead
Jessica Smith PT, CLT, Cert ASTY
Physical Therapist, Clinic Coordinator
Riverside Physical Therapy - Regional Medical Center (Newport News)
Cynthia McIlrath PT, DPT, CAPP-Pelvic Certified
Physical Therapist
Amanda Scott PT, DPT, CLT-UE
Physical Therapist
Riverside Physical Therapy - Regional Medical Center (Newport News)Madi Armstrong, PT, DPT, LSVT
Physical Therapist
Riverside Physical Therapy - Regional Medical Center (Newport News)Chelsea Pelletier, PTA
Physical Therapist Assistant
Riverside Physical Therapy - Regional Medical Center (Newport News)Caylee Williams, PTA
Physical Therapist Assistant
Riverside Physical Therapy - Regional Medical Center (Newport News)Brittany Reed, PTA
Physical Therapist Assistant
Riverside Physical Therapy - Regional Medical Center (Newport News)Connect With Us
- Riverside Physical Therapy Regional Medical Center
- Riverside Physical Therapy Shoreview
- Riverside Physical Therapy Hampton
- Riverside Physical Therapy Williamsburg
- Riverside Physical Therapy Shore
- Riverside Physical Therapy Doctors' Hospital Williamsburg