Women's pelvic health · Baltimore and Central Maryland
Physical therapy for urinary incontinence in Baltimore and Central Maryland
Leaking with a cough, a sneeze, a jump, or on the way to the bathroom affects about one in three women at some point. It is common, it is not a normal part of aging, and pelvic floor muscle training is the first-line treatment in every major guideline.
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Aetna and Medicare in-network; private pay for other plans
- No referral needed (unrestricted direct access)
- Video visits anywhere in Baltimore and Central Maryland
About the condition
Urinary incontinence: what is going on.
Stress incontinence is leaking when pressure rises: coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting, running. Urge incontinence is leaking after a sudden strong need to go, often triggered by a key in the door or running water. Many women have both. The usual cause is a pelvic floor that is weak, poorly timed, or, surprisingly often, too tight to work well, combined with bladder habits that have drifted over years.
Pelvic floor physical therapy addresses all of those. It is recommended before medication or surgery by the American Urological Association, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and international continence guidelines.
Common experiences
What people with urinary incontinence often describe
These are the patterns Dr. Shalem hears most often. Any of them is a reason to book a discovery call.
Leaking with coughing, sneezing, or laughing
Leaking during running, jumping, or lifting
A sudden urge that is hard to hold
Going to the bathroom more than eight times a day or more than once at night
Wearing a pad just in case
Planning outings around bathrooms
Treatment
How physical therapy addresses it.
The evaluation finds out whether the pelvic floor needs strengthening, relaxing, or better timing, which is why generic Kegel advice so often fails. The program then pairs pelvic floor training with bladder retraining, fluid and habit adjustments, and pressure management during the activities that cause leaking. Impact training is added for runners and athletes.
What a video visit looks like
Dr. Shalem guides a self-assessment of pelvic floor contraction and relaxation on camera, reviews a short bladder diary, and builds the program from there. Follow-ups track leaks, urgency, and progress toward the patient's own goals.
Coverage in Maryland
Insurance and pricing
Bring your plan name to the discovery call and we confirm your physical therapy benefit before the first visit.
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
In-network with CareFirst, Maryland's Blue Cross Blue Shield plan. We confirm your physical therapy benefit before the first visit.
Aetna
In-network with Aetna in Maryland. Most Aetna plans cover physical therapy with a copay or coinsurance; we confirm yours before the first visit.
Medicare
Enrolled with traditional Medicare (Part B). Medicare Advantage plans vary and are checked before the first visit.
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
Maryland allows you to see a physical therapist for evaluation and treatment without a physician referral, with no visit limit. Some insurance plans still ask for one, and we check that for you.
Baltimore City and County, Anne Arundel, Howard, Harford, Montgomery, and Prince George's counties are seen by video.
Questions
Questions people ask about urinary incontinence
How it works
How a virtual visit works
Dr. Shalem guides a self-assessment of pelvic floor contraction and relaxation on camera, reviews a short bladder diary, and builds the program from there. Follow-ups track leaks, urgency, and progress toward the patient's own goals.
Discovery call
15 minutes, free, by phoneA short call to hear what is going on, explain how visits work, and check insurance or pricing. No pressure to book.
Evaluation
60 minutes, by videoDr. Shalem takes a full history, watches how you move and breathe, and guides the self-assessments she needs to build a plan.
Your plan
Same visitYou leave the evaluation with a plain-language explanation and a short home program, usually a few minutes a day.
Follow-ups
45 minutes, every 1 to 2 weeksProgress 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
Urinary incontinence questions in Baltimore and Central Maryland
Are Kegels enough?
Only when the pelvic floor is weak and the person is doing them correctly, which is less common than people think. Many women with leaking have a pelvic floor that is overactive and needs to learn to relax first. The evaluation tells us which.
How long until leaking improves?
Most programs run eight to twelve weeks. Many women notice change within the first few weeks, and continued practice is what makes it last.
Can physical therapy help after menopause?
Yes. Pelvic floor training is effective at every age, and it is often combined with other options the patient's physician may suggest.
Do I need a referral for physical therapy in Maryland?
Maryland allows you to see a physical therapist for evaluation and treatment without a physician referral, with no visit limit. Some insurance plans still ask for one, and we check that for you.
What insurance do you take in Maryland?
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield: In-network with CareFirst, Maryland's Blue Cross Blue Shield plan. We confirm your physical therapy benefit before the first visit. Aetna: In-network with Aetna in Maryland. Most Aetna plans cover physical therapy with a copay or coinsurance; we confirm yours before the first visit. Medicare: Enrolled with traditional Medicare (Part B). Medicare Advantage plans vary and are checked before the first visit. Private pay: Available for any other plan. We provide a superbill you can submit for out-of-network reimbursement. HSA and FSA cards accepted.
Your physical therapist
Dr. Elana Shalem, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Miami. Licensed in Maryland.
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. ShalemPrefer to write? Send a message.
Questions about insurance, pricing, or whether physical therapy is the right next step? We reply within one business day.
Start with a free 15-minute call.
Tell us what is going on, hear how Dr. Shalem would approach it, and decide from there.