Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Oakland, CA
Expert Care. Evidenced Based Practice. Somatic Approach.
Pelvic floor symptoms are common and treatable. There are solutions!
Anyone may benefit from pelvic health care. We offer services to all genders. Also, if you self-identify as a cis-woman and have had children we can certainly help you.
How we heal pelvic pain:
We heal pelvic pain and other bothersome symptoms from the spine, abdomen, hips and pelvis.
Are you afraid you are causing damage when you experience pelvic pain?
Are you afraid the pain will get worse?
Have you been told surgery and medication are the only options?
How many visits with us?
Within the first 1-2 pelvic PT visits, you will know what is causing your symptoms and how to begin to feel safe in your body and be curious again.
Expect 4-6 physical therapy visits to reduce your symptoms and to gain independence with an individualized home practice. It is best if these visits are within 3 months to reinforce new habits and explore corrective movement patterns. If you have a complex medical history or condition, we can guide you to the appropriate outside providers to support your integrative health and improve pelvic PT outcomes.
If after 4 visits with us, and you are still anxious about your symptoms, we may refer you to trusted pain psychologists to support your nervous system and tend to your fears. When you have more space from the fear, then pelvic physical therapy can support your return to the joy of movement. We offer exercise only sessions and Telehealth at a reduced fee.
We will also refer you out to outside healthcare specialists, as needed, to possibly address causes of your symptoms that are not treatable with PT.
What are the options for long term PT care?
When you know what is causing your symptoms, when you are confident with your home practice, and your healthcare is integrative, then we can offer manual therapy only visits, at a reduced fee, so that you have access to the ongoing support you need.
We have seen clients, with “treatment-resistant” PTSD and years of stress from the medical system, do very well within 6 months.
Our approach is psychologically and trauma informed.
We support pregnancy and postpartum pelvic health.
Is this your first pregnancy and you are afraid of giving birth?
Did you have a traumatic birth?
Are you experiencing back, hip, knee, or pelvic pain?
How do we prepare pregnant bodies for labor and delivery?
During pregnancy, we can train your pelvic floor how to prepare for the stretch and pressure during delivery to decrease risk of tearing.
We can teach you diaphragmatic breathing resources to support your nervous system during labor and delivery.
Expect pelvic floor exercises to practice control and coordination, such as contract, relax, and push with breath support. These practices can decrease postpartum risk for urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and pelvic organ prolapse.
We can use biofeedback techniques to take you through different labor positions and provide cues for breathing and pelvic floor relaxation and stretches.
Pregnant clients may benefit from 2-4 visits with us.
Telehealth option available.
What are the options, weeks or years, after delivery?
For postpartum folks, we offer services to reduce symptoms, improve postural muscles strength, mobilize scars, and rehabilitate the pelvic floor. We recommend 4-6 PT visits for postpartum rehabilitation, within a 3 month period of time.
If after the 4-6 PT visits, you are still seeking a more complete resolution to your symptoms, we offer manual therapy and therapeutic exercise only sessions at a reduced fee. The frequency of these visits can vary and be as long as 1-2 months in between visits.
Telehealth option is available.
Have you been diagnosed with interstitial cystitis?
Are you afraid to leave the house if there will not be easy access to a bathroom?
Do you leak urine while jumping?
Do you leak urine when you are running to the bathroom?
How many visits with us?
We recommend at least 4 visits, ideally within a 2 month period, to get you started with the appropriate bladder training, pelvic floor muscle control, and optimal bladder habits.
Telehealth may be an appropriate first option to start your bladder training. Contact us for questions.
What are the options for long term care?
If after 4-6 pelvic PT visits, you are still bothered by bladder symptoms, we may offer manual therapy only visits at a reduced fee. These visits can be every other week, or monthly, until you are content with your relationship to your bladder.
If all you need is therapeutic exercise progressions, we offer exercise-only visits at a reduced fee. Since it takes time to build strength, these visits may be 3-4 weeks apart.
Telehealth option available.
Bladder
Telehealth and coaching available for vaginismus; for example, “hitting a wall,” fear of penetrative sex, unable to tolerate tampons or pelvic exams. Contact us.
We screen for dermatological, hormonal, inflammatory, and psychological factors, and can offer appropriate outside referrals to complement and improve PT interventions.
Expect 4-6 PT visits for significant improvement in symptoms.
Manual therapy only sessions available at a reduced fee for established clients.
Options for somatic movement play and embodied touch wellness services (details coming soon!).
Pelvic floor therapy for sex:
We treat pelvic health for digestive and bowel functions.
Do you have constipation?
Are bowel movements painful?
How are these symptoms treated?
Breathing, posture, and core muscles training with pelvic floor coordination
How many visits?
Significant progress expected in 2-6 visits, within 3 months, if you practice your home resource program.
Manual therapy only options available for established clients, after a good return demonstration of prescribed home practice. Contact us for questions.
If you have had abdominal or pelvic surgeries…
We can provide trauma informed and psychologically informed manual therapy to care for and mobilize scars and improve function and decrease pain.
Expect 4 pelvic PT visits within 2 months for significant improvement in symptoms.
Manual therapy and therapeutic exercise only visits available at a reduced fee for established clients.
For chronic pain symptoms…
Breathing, posture training, and hip strengthening programs.
Telehealth option available.
Somatically supported therapeutic exercise program for established clients at a reduced rate.
We offer transgender care.
Telehealth options available, contact us for details.
Somatically cared for scar mobilizations and pain management resources.
We can coordinate with your healthcare team for your integrative and evidence based support.
Evidence-based return to exercise program after surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions
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The pelvic floor is a sling of muscles at the bowel of your pelvis that is an essential part of your core. They are major players in the health of your urinary, bowel, and sexual functions. They also contribute to the support of your hips, sacrum, and low back.
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Pelvic floor therapy is a specialization of orthopedic physical therapy. The therapists at Bodyful are pelvic floor therapy specialists with thousands of hours of training in pelvic health, including internal pelvic floor therapy modalities. Your embodied consent is a prerequisite to internal pelvic floor care.
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Please see our blog about internal pelvic floor therapy! Pelvic floor internal therapy does not search for pathology, or what is "wrong" with you. Many clients are surprised by how empowering, demystifying, and comfortable our internal pelvic floor work services are. We attune to your signs of perceived safety. Our experts in pelvic floor PT can gently offer touch with slow, lubricated, penetration using a gloved finger. Depending on your symptoms, internal pelvic work can be vaginal or rectal. The intention of this care is to guide your pelvic floor awareness and to integrate pelvic consciousness with your core and breath support.
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Please see our blogs about Bodyful's somatic pelvic physical therapy! A somatic approach means we use skillful and compassionate inquiry to hold space for your connection to your body awareness. If you have experienced significant trauma, this awareness must be cared for gently, slowly, with patience, tenderness, and with a present witness. Somatic approaches are a container for wholly being with yourself. The therapeutic alliance with your PT can be a container.
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—Prolapse
—Incontinence (fecal or urinary)
—Pelvic pain
—Pain associated with the low back, pelvic girdle, sacroiliac joint (SIJ), public symphysis, or tailbone
—Pregnancy-related aches and pains
—Preparation for birth and recovery after birth
—Pain with intercourse
—Leaking during exercise
—Pelvic heaviness
—Pain associated with endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, cramping during menstruation
—Diastasis recti
—Gut and bowel issues
—Penis-bodied pelvic health concerns such as testicular pain, prostatitis, erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation or pain with ejaculation, Peyronies Disease, and more
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Absolutely. We are experts in treating the whole body as a complete movement system. Movement is interconnected with other physiological systems and embryological relationships. The pelvis and core support are central -- center of mass, home to visceral organs, rich in potent nervous system activity, etc. Your foot pain may be caused by your pelvis and your jaw pain may be related to your pelvic floor dysfunction.
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No. You do not need a prescription for an evaluation in the state of California. You can be seen up to 6 visits or 45 days (whichever comes first) and then you will need a signed plan of care by an MD or DO.
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We are a private pay practice and we are out-of-network with all insurance providers. We can provide a monthly superbill for you to submit to insurance for reimbursement. We recommend you contact your insurance for details on your individual plan and coverage. We accept HSA and FSA. Unfortunately, due to federal law, we are unable to work with patients that use Medicare or Medi-Cal/Medicaid. Ask us about our wellness services.
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Every brain and body responds differently to therapy. Therefore, your plan of care is a collaborative and individualized process. Typically, musculoskeletal impairments significantly change by 4-6 weeks of consistent and targeted treatment, and some folks are satisfied within 2-4 visits. Your belief systems also influence outcomes. If you are not progressing towards your goals, we can skillfully guide you to other providers in the community that may be a better fit. Consider us part of your managed care team!
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Appointment cancellations require 48 hours notice. Because a session is reserved for you, you will be charged the $250.00 for your appointment if you do not cancel in the required window. We are considerate for medical and family emergencies.
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We are located at 2929 Summit Street, Suite 208 in Oakland. There is 2 hour metered street parking available. Unfortunately, there are no designated parking spots for bodies with disabilities in the front of the building.
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This is an option if it is appropriate for your care. Additional fee applies based on mileage and time. Reach out for details.
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Call the toll free number for customer service on your insurance card. Select the option that will allow you to speak with a customer service representative, not an automated system. Let the customer service provider know that you are seeing an out-of-network (OON) or non-preferred provider.
Ask the customer service representative to quote your OUTPATIENT, OUT-OF-NETWORK Physical Therapy benefits.
CPT codes: 97163, 97112, 97140, 97530, 97110
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