FAQs

What are pelvic floor muscles? +

The pelvic floor muscles are a group of skeletal muscles that exist in a bowl-like structure in the pelvic ring between the tailbone, sacrum, pubic bone and “sit-bones.” They are structured like all other skeletal muscles in our body but like all muscles, their function is unique. They work or function to support our organs and control for bowel, bladder, and sexual function. They accommodate the delivery of a baby or bowel movement. They stretch for insertion to achieve intimacy, tampon use or for gynecological assessment. Pelvic floor muscles can become dysfunctional and are subject to injury just as your biceps or quadriceps can become injured. When this happens, it results in conditions such as urinary leakage, fecal leakage, constipation, pelvic pain, organ prolapse, hip or back pain and diastasis rectus abdominis.

Do you accept my insurance? +

Helix Pelvic Health, LLC is currently an out-of-network provider and is not listed as a preferred provider with any insurance company.

Insurance companies often reimburse for out of network physical therapy services. We can provide appropriate documentation for you to submit for reimbursement and pursue direct billing to your insurance company. Please contact your insurance company to learn more about your out of network benefits.

Payment is due in full at the time of service in the form of cash, check, credit card or HSA/FSA debit card. Physical therapy services do qualify for Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).

Our receptionist is happy to clarify any additional questions.

Do I need a referral to initiate Physical Therapy? +

No, Maine is a direct access state. If you are planning to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement, you should familiarize yourself with their policy. Some insurance companies do require a referral.

What is the cancellation policy? +

Cancellation Policy:

We ask that patients kindly provide 24hrs notice for cancelled appointments. This allows Helix Pelvic Health LLC to offer the appointment to someone else in need of care. If the appointment is cancelled with less than 24hrs notice or the patient fails to show up to any scheduled appointment, the patient will be subject to a 75-dollar cancellation fee. We understand that life happens, and patients may need to cancel an appointment due to urgent family needs. We will waive the fee for one such event.

Late Arrival Policy:

We ask that patients aim to arrive at least 15 minutes early for their first appointment. This allows time to comfortably locate the clinic and fill out any incomplete paperwork prior to the evaluation. After this appointment, it is expected that patients arrive on time for appointments. Should a patient arrive late to their appointment, the appointment time will be shortened to allow patients scheduled after them to receive their full appointment time.

How much do my visits cost? +

• Evaluation: 60 min | $145
• Evaluation: 90 min | $185
• Follow up treatment session: 60 min | $125
• Six-month Check-in: 60 min | $125
• Pilates Wellness Visit: 60 min | $95
• Chat with the Doctor: 20 min | $45

What should I expect from my first appointment? +

1. You tell your story, we listen.

2. Clinical Assessment:

Assessment of the pelvic floor muscles is inherently holistic. The assessment allows your therapist to gather objective information to better understand your symptoms and best determine intervention choices. Aspects of the assessment include both indirect and direct techniques.

Indirect pelvic floor assessment explores all major systems of the body to interpret how they may be affecting the function of your pelvic floor. Direct assessment is the gold standard and is recommended but not required to help you improve function and regain independence.

3. We discuss your Plan of Care:

Indirect and direct assessments both help to develop your plan of care. A plan of care is used to determine the intervention choices, frequency and duration that will likely lead to best results. At Helix Pelvic Health, we embrace a patient centered model and invite your unique goals and intuitions to inform the plan of care.

4. Interventions to begin your healing journey:

Interventions can include Pilates and yoga-based exercises, functional core strengthening, manual therapy, patient education, ultrasound, bowel and bladder retraining techniques, ergonomics, postural reeducation, and gait training. We recognize variations in learning strategies and support the development of your home exercise program via individualized videos uploaded to your personal patient portal.

How do I get to Helix Pelvic Health? +

Address: 15 Main Street #16, Freeport, ME 04032

From 295 North: Take exit 20 and keep right at the fork toward downtown Freeport. Merge onto Desert Rd and continue straight onto Main St. Helix Pelvic Health is in the large green building on the left on the corner of West St and Main St.. It is across from the Police station. The clinic is on the far right end of the building with granite stairs. It is closest to "When Pigs Fly" Bread company.

From 295 South/ME-125: Take exit 22 toward ME-125 and continue onto ME-125. Turn right onto Main street and continue straight until you reach the light at the intersection of Main and West St. with "When Pig's Fly" Bread company on your right and the Police station on your left. You can park in the bakery lot or continue through the light to turn right into the building lot. The clinic is on the far right end of the building with granite stairs. It is closest to "When Pigs Fly" Bread company.

There are two entrances:

1. You can park in the parking lot of the bakery and cross West St. toward the side of the building. You will enter up a short ramp. Clinic is through the door to your immediate left. Please wait in the waiting area, and you will be greeted by your therapist at your appointment time.

2. You can park in the large lot assigned to the building next to Aveda Salon and walk up the ramp or around the front of the building to the granite steps. Front door enters the clinic waiting area. Please wait here to be greeted by your therapist at your appointment time.

Why is Helix Pelvic Health LLC, out of Network? +

Faster Outcomes: The structure of our out-of-network policy allows us to provide you with quality, patient-centered care that is not limited in frequency or duration by insurance companies. We provide you with undivided attention throughout your sessions and assign you to one physical therapist. This allows for better continuity of care and increases the progress that can be made each session.

Improved Access to Care: Patients can schedule in-clinic, virtual or at-home visits as part of their care plan which improves access to care. Patients will be able to keep in touch with their therapist between sessions which further improves the rate of progress.

Fewer Visits: Appointments are individualized for each care plan to best meet the scheduling needs of the patient. With increased appointment duration, patients can plan to see initial progress with as few as one visit per week. Patients then continue progress with as few as 1-3 visits per month.

Holistic Approach: Pelvic floor physical therapy is inherently holistic. As an out-of-network provider we can treat the whole person to best meet patient goals. Ultimately, we can help you keep momentum with your progress after graduating from skilled care through our wellness platform.

What should I wear? +

Anything you are comfortable wearing. Preferably something loose and/or stretchy so that you will be comfortable moving your body. You are welcome to bring a change of clothes and change in a treatment room.