How to Find a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist in Denver: What to Look For
Updated: Aug 28
Finding the right pelvic floor physical therapist can feel a little overwhelming - especially if you’re not sure what pelvic floor physical therapy involves or what separates a pelvic health specialist from a general physical therapist.
If you’re looking for a pelvic floor physical therapist in Denver, start by looking for a licensed physical therapist with advanced pelvic health training who regularly treats your specific symptoms or condition. Consider the therapist’s experience, whether appointments are one-on-one, how long visits are, and whether their approach makes you feel comfortable, informed, and involved in your care.
Here’s what to look for - and what to ask - when choosing a pelvic floor PT in Denver.
What Is a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist?
A pelvic floor physical therapist is a licensed physical therapist with additional training in evaluating and treating conditions involving the pelvic floor.
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles at the base of the pelvis that plays an important role in bladder and bowel control, sexual function, core stability, movement, and support of the pelvic organs. These muscles can become weak, tight, painful, poorly coordinated, or a combination of all of the above.
Pelvic floor physical therapy isn't just about Kegels. Depending on what is contributing to your symptoms, treatment may include strengthening, muscle relaxation, breathing and pressure management, manual therapy, mobility work, exercise, bowel or bladder retraining, nervous system regulation, and changes to everyday movement.
What Conditions Does a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist Treat?
Pelvic floor PT can help with much more than bladder leakage. A pelvic health physical therapist may treat:
Urinary leakage or incontinence
Urinary urgency and frequency
Overactive bladder
Constipation and difficulty with bowel movements
Fecal incontinence
Pelvic organ prolapse
Pain with intercourse
Vaginismus, vulvodynia and vestibulodynia
Tailbone pain
Endometriosis-related pelvic pain
Interstitial cystitis or bladder pain syndrome
Pregnancy-related back, hip or pelvic pain
Postpartum recovery
Diastasis recti
C-section and perineal scar concerns
Prostatitis and male chronic pelvic pain
Pelvic symptoms following prostate surgery
Pelvic floor concerns related to gender-affirming care or surgery
Persistent hip or low-back pain associated with pelvic floor dysfunction
Because pelvic health covers such a wide range of concerns, finding a therapist with experience treating your specific symptoms matters.
7 Things to Look for When Choosing a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist
1. Advanced Training in Pelvic Health
Becoming a physical therapist requires a graduate-level physical therapy degree and licensure, but pelvic floor rehabilitation is a specialized area of practice. In most cases, a PT only learns about the pelvic floor in a couple of lectures as part of schooling. Pelvic floor PT requires substantial additional coursework and training. Here at Sage PT, we all have the passion, dedication, and love for this speciality such that we have advanced our knowledge and skills through numerous post-graduate trainings.
Look for a PT who has completed additional pelvic health coursework and continuing education beyond their physical therapy degree. Don't be afraid to ask about a provider's pelvic floor training or experience with your particular diagnosis. Here at Sage PT, each of our PTs has a strong orthopedic background, meaning we understand how the whole body works and interacts. However, what really makes us special is the amount of advanced training and experience we have diagnosing and treating specific pelvic floor issues. Our five PTs share a combined 27 years of experience in pelvic health PT!
2. A Practice That Regularly Treats Pelvic Health
Some general physical therapy practices offer pelvic floor therapy as one of many services. Others focus primarily on pelvic health.
Neither model automatically determines the quality of your care, but it is reasonable to ask how frequently your therapist treats pelvic floor conditions. Someone who regularly works with pelvic health patients is more likely to have experience with the nuances of these conditions. Here at Sage PT, we focus primarily on pelvic health. This includes the pelvic floor, back, hips and anything else from ribs to knees! However, we recognize that everything is connected, so we have strong orthopedic backgrounds as well.
3. Experience With Your Specific Condition
"Pelvic floor dysfunction" is a broad term.
A therapist who primarily treats postpartum patients may have a different skill set than someone who frequently works with chronic pelvic pain, male pelvic health, bowel dysfunction, endometriosis, or post-surgical rehabilitation.
When scheduling, ask: "Do you regularly treat patients with my symptoms or diagnosis?" Here at Sage PT, we regularly treat patients with a wide variety of both common and rare symptoms and diagnoses.
4. One-on-One Treatment
Ask what a typical appointment actually looks like.
Will you spend your full appointment with your physical therapist? Will your therapist be treating multiple patients at once? Will part of your appointment be delegated to an aide or technician?
Pelvic floor concerns are personal and often complex. Having dedicated time gives you and your PT an opportunity to discuss symptoms, assess changes, answer questions, and adjust treatment as needed. Here at Sage PT, you will always be seen one-on-one with your Doctor of Physical Therapy for 55 minute appointments. No techs, aides, or assistants - you’ll always be with the best of the best!
5. Enough Time for a Thorough Appointment
Pelvic floor evaluations often involve much more than assessing a single muscle.
Your therapist may need to discuss bladder and bowel habits, pain, exercise, pregnancy or birth history, sexual function, surgeries and other health history. The physical assessment may also look at breathing, strength, mobility, posture, hips, spine, abdomen and movement patterns in addition to the pelvic floor.
Ask how long evaluations and follow-up appointments typically last so you know what to expect. Here at Sage PT, our appointments are long enough to get to the root cause and fix it!
6. A Whole-Body Approach
Your pelvic floor doesn't work in isolation.
The hips, back, abdominal muscles, diaphragm, nervous system and everyday movement patterns can all influence pelvic floor function. That's why good pelvic floor therapy shouldn't automatically mean doing Kegels.
In fact, some people with pelvic floor symptoms have muscles that are already overactive or tight. Continually strengthening those muscles without understanding what they actually need may not address the problem.
Look for a physical therapist who evaluates the bigger picture instead of treating every pelvic floor symptom the same way. Here at Sage PT, we all have strong orthopedic backgrounds to our advanced pelvic floor training and specialization, meaning we understand how the whole body works together.
7. Comfort, Consent and Communication
Pelvic health treatment can involve discussing subjects that you may not normally talk about at a physical therapy appointment.
You should feel comfortable asking questions, saying no, requesting an explanation, or changing course during treatment. A good therapeutic relationship should feel collaborative rather than something that is simply being done to you. Here at Sage PT, we prioritize our therapeutic alliance with you as our patient. We’re on the same team and helping you feel comfortable is incredibly important.
Questions to Ask Before Scheduling With a Pelvic Floor PT
Before choosing a provider, consider asking:
Do you specialize in pelvic floor physical therapy? Ask how much of the therapist's practice involves pelvic health and what advanced pelvic health training they have completed.
Do you treat my specific condition? Tell the clinic why you're seeking treatment and ask whether the therapist regularly sees patients with similar symptoms.
Will I see the same physical therapist each visit? Consistency can be especially valuable when treating a personal or complex condition.
How long are appointments? Ask how much time you'll spend directly with your physical therapist and whether appointments are one-on-one.
Does pelvic floor PT require an internal examination? No. An internal pelvic floor examination can provide very useful information, but it should only be performed with your informed consent. There are also many ways to evaluate and treat pelvic floor dysfunction without an internal examination.
What Happens at Your First Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Appointment?
Your first appointment will begin with a conversation.
Your physical therapist may ask about your symptoms, health history, activities, goals, bladder and bowel function, pain, and other factors relevant to why you're seeking treatment.
A physical assessment may include strength testing, range of motion, movement analysis, breathing, posture, abdominal function, hip and spinal mobility, and pelvic floor function.
An internal vaginal or rectal pelvic floor examination may sometimes be recommended. This allows a trained pelvic health PT to assess things like muscle tension, strength, endurance and coordination. It does not involve a speculum or stirrups, and an internal examination should always be optional.
Your therapist should explain what they find, how it may relate to your symptoms, and what your treatment plan might involve.
Finding a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist in Denver
Location is another practical consideration when choosing a pelvic floor PT. Treatment often involves multiple appointments, so finding a clinic that is reasonably convenient to home, work or other parts of your routine can make it easier to follow through with care.
If you're searching for pelvic floor physical therapy in Denver, you may want to consider practices near neighborhoods such as Washington Park, Platt Park, Cherry Creek, University, South Denver, or nearby Englewood. Sage Physical Therapy is conveniently located in Platt Park, a short drive or bike ride from our beautiful, diverse neighborhoods of Denver. While many of our patients are local, we see patients from all over the state of Colorado and even beyond!
But convenience shouldn't be the only deciding factor. It can be worth traveling a little farther for a physical therapist who specializes in your condition and provides the type of care you're looking for.
What We Wish More Patients Knew Before Choosing a Pelvic Floor PT
One of the biggest misconceptions we hear is that pelvic floor physical therapy is synonymous with Kegels.
It isn't.
Sometimes pelvic floor muscles need to get stronger. Sometimes they need to relax. Sometimes they're strong but aren't coordinating well with the rest of the body. And sometimes the biggest contributor to someone's symptoms involves the hips, abdomen, breathing mechanics, nervous system, or another part of the musculoskeletal system.
That's why an individualized evaluation matters. Your treatment should be based on what your body needs - not simply on the fact that you have a pelvic floor.
Looking for a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist in Denver?
Sage Physical Therapy is a specialty physical therapy practice located in Denver's Platt Park neighborhood, near Washington Park. Our team of five full-time physical therapists practices exclusively in pelvic health and orthopedic rehabilitation, with extensive postgraduate training in pelvic floor physical therapy.
Our Denver pelvic floor PTs treat women, men, transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse patients with concerns including pelvic pain, bladder and bowel dysfunction, pregnancy and postpartum recovery, painful intercourse, endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, male pelvic health concerns, gender-affirming and post-surgical rehabilitation, and related hip and low-back pain.
Appointments at Sage PT are one-on-one with a doctor of physical therapy, without aides, double booking, or rotating between providers. Our goal is to figure out why you're experiencing symptoms, help you understand what's happening, and create a treatment plan specific to you.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pelvic Floor PT in Denver
How do I find a good pelvic floor physical therapist in Denver?
Look for a licensed physical therapist with advanced pelvic health training who regularly treats your specific symptoms. Ask about appointment length, one-on-one treatment, experience with your condition, and the therapist's overall approach to pelvic health.
Do I need a referral for pelvic floor physical therapy in Colorado?
Colorado allows direct access to physical therapy, meaning many patients can schedule with a physical therapist without first obtaining a physician referral.
How do I know if I need pelvic floor physical therapy?
Consider an evaluation if you're experiencing symptoms such as urinary leakage, urgency or frequency, constipation, pelvic pain, painful intercourse, pelvic pressure or heaviness, pregnancy or postpartum concerns, or persistent pelvic, hip or low-back symptoms.
Can men see a pelvic floor physical therapist?
Yes. Men have pelvic floors, too. Pelvic floor PT can help address male pelvic pain, urinary symptoms, bowel dysfunction, chronic prostatitis symptoms, sexual dysfunction, and recovery following prostate surgery.
Can I go to pelvic floor PT while pregnant?
Heck yes!! Pelvic floor physical therapy during pregnancy can address back or pelvic pain, urinary symptoms, exercise, mobility, and preparation for labor and delivery when appropriate for the individual. We work to prevent issues such as pain or leaking - we don’t just wait for them to show up! Then we have a specific delivery prep program to prepare for the big day, prevent issues from occurring, and help lead to a smoother recovery.
Does pelvic floor PT always involve an internal exam?
No. Internal pelvic floor examinations are useful, but always optional. Your physical therapist should explain why one may be useful and ask for your consent before performing it. Treatment can also include many external assessment and treatment techniques.
How many pelvic floor PT appointments will I need?
Short answer: It depends! There isn't one standard number. The appropriate length of treatment depends on your symptoms, diagnosis, goals, medical history, and how your body responds to treatment.
Where can I find pelvic floor physical therapy near Wash Park in Denver?
Sage Physical Therapy is located at 1165 S. Pennsylvania Street in Denver's Platt Park neighborhood, just west of Washington Park. We provide specialized pelvic floor physical therapy for patients throughout Denver and surrounding communities. Schedule a pelvic floor PT evaluation here.
Founder & Doctor of Physical Therapy, Sage Physical Therapy
Denver, Colorado
