Video visits
Do I have to undress for pelvic floor physical therapy?
Not for a video visit. Telehealth pelvic floor physical therapy is done fully clothed; the therapist coaches a self-assessment and never sees anything the patient does not choose to show. In-person clinics may offer an internal exam, always with consent and never required.
The details
What to know
Answered by the practice of Dr. Elana Shalem, DPT, pelvic floor and orthopedic physical therapist.
One of the most common reasons people delay pelvic floor care is the exam. Video removes it. During a telehealth evaluation the patient lies down or sits in comfortable clothing, and the therapist guides them to feel their own pelvic floor contract and relax, to notice breathing patterns, and to watch for doming or bulging of the abdomen during effort. The camera typically points at the face and upper body, or at the whole body in loose clothing during movement tests.
Internal assessment has value for some diagnoses, and a patient who later wants one can get it from a local therapist while continuing the rest of their care by video. For the majority of bladder, bowel, pain, and postpartum conditions, the self-guided assessment gives the therapist what is needed to build and progress a plan.
EMS Therapy visits are one-on-one with Dr. Elana Shalem, DPT, on a HIPAA-compliant video platform, and the patient controls what is on camera at all times.
Where you live
Tell us where you are
Insurance, referral rules, and booking depend on where you live. Choose your area and we take you to the right page.
Not listed? Dr. Shalem can only treat patients located in a state where she holds a license. Send a message and we will tell you what is possible.
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.
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
Your physical therapist
Dr. Elana Shalem, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Miami. Licensed physical therapist.
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.