Frequently Asked Questions

The pelvic floor is a "hammock" of muscles stretching from your pubic bone to your tailbone. These muscles help control bowel, bladder, and sexual function. Because they're under voluntary control, you can contract and relax them just like any other muscle. However, they can become overactive or underactive, leading to dysfunction. Specific exercises (not always Kegels) can help restore healthy muscle function.

Pelvic floor physical therapy (also known as pelvic health physical therapy) focuses on restoring healthy function to the muscles, nerves, and organs of the pelvis. It goes far beyond Kegels. With advanced training in pelvic health, we use a combination of manual therapy, exercise, and muscle re-education to treat issues related to bowel, bladder, and sexual health. Each session is one-on-one and tailored to your needs, including a personalized home exercise program.

Your initial evaluation lasts about one hour and takes place in a private treatment room. We begin by discussing your concerns, goals, and medical history. Next, we perform a physical assessment, including posture, pelvic alignment, strength, and mobility. With your consent, we may also include an internal exam to assess your pelvic floor muscle tone and function. Internal exams are never done without informed consent and can always be modified based on your comfort.

Internal work can be a very effective part of pelvic floor PT, but it’s not required and only done with your full, informed consent. We also offer a wide range of external techniques and movement-based approaches that can support your goals, like breathwork, posture and movement retraining, hip and core strengthening, dry needling, external manual release techniques and more. Full transparency: we do see it as a red flag if a clinic offers pelvic floor PT but doesn’t do internal work at all - this may indicate a lack of training or a limited understanding of pelvic health. At BPPT, we offer the full spectrum of care and help you decide what’s right for you. Your comfort and autonomy are central to everything we do.

As soon as you're ready! While we wait until at least 6 weeks postpartum to perform any internal exams, we can begin addressing posture, core strength, pain, feeding, and baby-wearing positions, and more right away. There's still plenty of valuable work we can do early on.

At Boston Pelvic Physical Therapy, we care for patients of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate based on race, ability, or gender expression. We proudly serve the LGBTIA+ community.

We are an out-of-network, fee-for-service practice. This allows us to spend a full hour with each patient and offer highly personalized care. Payment is due at the time of service via cash, credit card, HSA/FSA, check, or Venmo.

We provide itemized superbills upon request so you can submit for potential reimbursement using your out-of-network benefits.

Unfortunately, due to federal regulations, we are unable to treat patients with Medicare Part B or Medicaid. We recommend using pelvicrehab.com to find in-network options.

Dr. Alex talks more about this here and here.

Nope! Massachusetts is a direct access state, meaning you can schedule without a referral. However, some insurance companies may require one for reimbursement, so it’s worth checking with your provider.

Virtual visits are a convenient way to receive expert guidance from home. We’ll review your health history and current concerns, assess contributing lifestyle factors, and provide a tailored home exercise plan. It’s a great option if you’re out of the area or prefer not to attend in person.

We can also collaborate with your healthcare team at your request.

Absolutely. We frequently see patients who have had prior PT elsewhere. We’ll review what you’ve tried, what worked or didn’t, and build on that foundation with a fresh, personalized approach.

Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing you can move in. Sessions may involve stretching, mobility work, or posture assessments. If an internal exam is included, you’ll have privacy and a drape. Most importantly, wear what helps you feel relaxed and at ease.

Yes! Menstruation won’t interfere with your care. If you’d prefer to skip internal work during your period, just let us know—we’ll adjust your session accordingly.

We are located at 467 Main Street, Suite 2B, Melrose, MA 02176. Free 3-hour parking is available behind the building, and we’re just a 7-minute walk from the Wyoming Hill Train Station. If you come in from the parking lot, we are the first door on the right at the top of the stairs. A ramp is located inside the front entrance if you have a stroller, wheelchair, or other assistive device.