Central Florida

Pelvic floor and orthopedic physical therapy in Central Florida, by video.

Aetna and Medicare in-network; private pay with superbills for other plans. Women's and men's pelvic health and orthopedic physical therapy, one-on-one with a Doctor of Physical Therapy, from home anywhere in Central Florida.

  • No referral needed to start (30-day direct access)
  • Usually seen within a week
  • Video visits anywhere in Central Florida
A woman on a mat in her living room during a video physical therapy visit

What we treat in Central Florida

Three specialties. One physical therapist.

Between Orlando, Tampa, and the Space Coast, Central Florida is a lot of driving for a specialist appointment, and The Villages and Ocala have almost no pelvic health physical therapy at all. A video visit replaces the I-4 commute with an hour at home.

Coverage in Florida

Insurance and pricing

Bring your plan name to the discovery call and we confirm your physical therapy benefit before the first visit. No surprises.

Aetna

In-network (Aetna designated provider). Most Aetna plans cover physical therapy with a copay or coinsurance; we confirm yours before the first visit.

Medicare

In-network with traditional Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans vary; ask on the discovery call.

Private pay

Available for any other plan. We provide a superbill you can submit for out-of-network reimbursement. HSA and FSA cards accepted.

Referrals

Florida allows you to start physical therapy without a referral. If care continues past 30 days for a condition no physician has seen you for, we help you get a quick practitioner review so treatment can continue.

Everywhere in Central Florida, from the Gulf coast to the Atlantic, is seen by video. In-home visits are available in Miami-Dade County only.

Where

Anywhere in Central Florida

A video visit works the same in Orlando, Kissimmee, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Lakeland, Daytona Beach, Melbourne, Ocala, The Villages, and Sarasota as it does anywhere else in Central Florida. No clinic, no drive, no waiting room.

Pages for each area

How it works

How a virtual visit works

Most of pelvic floor physical therapy is education, breathing and pressure management, movement retraining, and a home program. All of it works on camera. During the evaluation, Dr. Shalem guides a self-assessment so she can see how the pelvic floor is coordinating with breath and movement. An internal examination is not possible by video; if a hands-on assessment would change the plan, she says so and helps the patient find local care.

A woman at her kitchen table on a video visit with her physical therapist
  1. Discovery call

    15 minutes, free, by phone

    A short call to hear what is going on, explain how visits work, and check insurance or pricing. No pressure to book.

  2. Evaluation

    60 minutes, by video

    Dr. Shalem takes a full history, watches how you move and breathe, and guides the self-assessments she needs to build a plan.

  3. Your plan

    Same visit

    You leave the evaluation with a plain-language explanation and a short home program, usually a few minutes a day.

  4. Follow-ups

    45 minutes, every 1 to 2 weeks

    Progress checks, program updates, and techniques you can do yourself, for as long as they are useful.

For a video visit you will need

  • A phone, tablet, or laptop with a camera
  • A private room
  • A mat or towel
  • About an hour

Questions

Common questions in Central Florida

Do I need a referral for physical therapy in Florida?

Florida allows you to start physical therapy without a referral. If care continues past 30 days for a condition no physician has seen you for, we help you get a quick practitioner review so treatment can continue.

What insurance do you take in Florida?

Aetna: In-network (Aetna designated provider). Most Aetna plans cover physical therapy with a copay or coinsurance; we confirm yours before the first visit. Medicare: In-network with traditional Medicare. Medicare Advantage plans vary; ask on the discovery call. Private pay: Available for any other plan. We provide a superbill you can submit for out-of-network reimbursement. HSA and FSA cards accepted.

Do you see men as well as women?

Yes. Dr. Shalem treats women's pelvic health, men's pelvic health (leaking after prostate surgery, chronic pelvic pain, urgency, and pelvic-floor-related erectile dysfunction), and orthopedic conditions for everyone.

Do I have to live near a city to be seen?

No. Video visits work anywhere in Central Florida with an internet connection. Patients in rural areas are a large share of the practice.

What does a visit cost?

With in-network insurance, your plan's physical therapy copay or cost share; we verify it before the first visit. Private-pay rates are quoted on the free discovery call, and a superbill is provided for out-of-network reimbursement.

How soon can I be seen?

Usually within a week. Evening and weekend appointments are available.

Dr. Elana Shalem, DPT

Your physical therapist

Dr. Elana Shalem, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Miami. Licensed in Florida.

Dr. Shalem treats pelvic health for women and men, from pregnancy and postpartum recovery to bladder, bowel, and pelvic pain conditions and recovery after prostate or pelvic surgery, and general orthopedic conditions of the back, neck, hips, knees, shoulders, and feet. Visits are one-on-one and unhurried, and she explains what she is seeing in plain language.

More about Dr. Shalem

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