Q: How often should I expect to come to therapy?
A: Stress/Urge and Mixed Incontinence
usually can be treated in 6-8 visits lasting 30-45 minutes each.
Post-Prostatectomy Incontinence may require more
visits depending on the extent of your surgery and healing time.
Your 1st 2-4 visits will be weekly, and then
you will be given exercises to do at home on your own and return every 2-3
weeks for progressions to your home exercise program.
If you are experiencing pelvic pain, you will
likely require more visits depending on the severity of the pain and how
long you’ve experienced the pain.
Q: Is it necessary to do an internal vaginal and/or rectal exam?
A: Evaluation of the pelvic floor muscles is done via an internal
vaginal (female) or rectal (male). Not all patients receive an internal
exam, it is done based on your condition and consent. This exam is performed
to assess the strength, muscle symmetry and tone, trigger points and
specific contraction ability of your pelvic floor muscles. Just like in a
neck injury, the muscles need to be treated to promote relaxation and
re-gain normal strength. If at any time this causes discomfort for you,
please let us know so we can discuss your feelings and perhaps find
alternatives for treatment.
Q: What is biofeedback?
A: Biofeedback, also called Surface Electromyography
(SEMG), is a learning technique that utilizes specialized equipment to
assist a person in gaining control of their natural body functions. It
involves the monitoring of a life process (bio) and the return of that
information to the patient and therapist in a meaningful form (feedback).
Biofeedback training uses sensitive equipment that
enables you to see or hear how your muscles are responding to your
instructions. Becoming aware of these responses is the first step in
learning to control them. By combining this information with special
exercises, you can learn to relax tense muscles or strengthen weak muscles.
Q: Who uses biofeedback?
A: Your health care provider may recommended biofeedback evaluation
and treatment for the muscles of your pelvic floor. These muscles are
responsible for bladder and bowel control as well as sexual response. Anyone
interested in learning how to relax tense muscles, strengthen weak ones, or
to control and coordinate use of muscles may benefit from biofeedback.
Q: What does biofeedback involve?
A: For the evaluation you will use either an internal
sensor, placed into the vagina or rectum, or external stick-on sensors
placed around the rectal opening. These sensors are used to monitor the
muscle activity of your pelvic floor. This enables you and your therapist to
see and evaluate resting muscle activity as well as evaluate your muscle
strength and endurance. The results of your evaluation will help your
therapist design a specific treatment plan for your needs.
Q: What is required after the evaluation?
A: Your exercise program will depend upon the results
of your evaluation. Almost everyone is asked to carry out a home exercise
program utilizing the skills and exercises they learn in the clinic. Some
people need special home biofeedback equipment to help them monitor their
exercise program. If this is necessary for you, the equipment can be either
rented or purchased.
Q: Will I get reimbursed for therapy?
A: Insurance plans that do not require you to
go to an "in network" provider will reimburse you according to the plan you
have purchased. If you have a Preferred Provider network (PPO) you will be
reimbursed according to your plans’ "out of network" benefit. You most
likely will have to satisfy your deductible first.
Most of our patients have been reimbursed based on their plan benefits.
