I am currently doing prenatal pelvic floor PT to address pelvic ligament/muscle pain and to prepare for childbirth (this is my first pregnancy). My OB didn't see the point in doing pelvic floor PT before birth so I got a referral from my PCP and had my first appointment 16 weeks (I'm currently 23 weeks).
The office is located on the second floor of the Kukui Plaza. When you drive into the parking structure, make sure that you use the lane for guests to get your ticket. Guest parking is on the lower level and you can park in any stall that isn't marked as "reserved". There isn't cell reception down there and I initially thought I couldn't park in stalls with numbers but couldn't call the office to confirm--just something to keep in mind. I drive a compact car and the stalls are pretty tight but I'm always able to find an open space within a reasonable distance from the elevator.
When you exit the elevator on the second floor, Hawai'i Pelvic Therapy will towards on your right. The receptionists are always really friendly and welcoming at both check in and check out.
All areas of the space are very clean and bright. The bathroom is a bit small and there is a step up so I would recommend turning on the light (to the right if you're entering the bathroom) first before stepping in. I was tickled to see a Squatty Potty as one of the tools in the exercise space as I've been using one at home long before I became pregnant lol.
At each appointment, I usually meet with both Deborah (HPT founder and PT) and a PT assistant. Deborah will do manual therapy/massage in one of the private consultation rooms and sometimes check in to see how I'm progressing/make any recommendations for the PT assistant for my treatment. The PT assistant will work with me on exercises in the main space. I initially thought pelvic floor PT would be internal (ex: kegels) but all therapies have been external/clothes on so far. Deborah said that because I'm pregnant, we want to try to avoid any internal therapies.
I initially had some pain around my tailbone that was so bad that it hurt to adjust myself in bed or get up from being seated. That has since gone away. I've also been having pain in my piriformis muscle (deep in my glutes) and the massages are HEAVENLY. Because they're so specific at the pain I've been experiencing, they've been more relieving than general prenatal massage. I (internally) got emotional at first because I had been struggling with so much pain for over a month at that point and nothing was helping and I FINALLY felt some relief. Deborah also let me know that I have about three fingers width of ab separation (abdominis recti) so the exercises are also working to address that.
If you don't have them already, they will recommend that you get yourself some PT equipment so that you can continue to practice exercises at home. So far, this has included a yoga mat, a foam roller, yoga blocks, and resistance bands. For some equipment (ex: medicine ball to squeeze with my thighs), they can recommend other solutions like a pillow between the thighs instead. These items are easily found on Amazon or local stores like Target, Walmart, and even Longs. The PT assistant has been great at checking in with my comfort levels as I am practicing new exercises and making adjustments to my treatment plan as needed.
Afterwards, they will send you some emails with the exercises that include written descriptions and short video clips. The video clips are great because they help me better understand/remember what to do compared to just written information and still photos.
With my insurance, they charge a small copay with each appointment and offered to keep my card on file. If you need an itemized receipt (ex: for FSA card), they can provide one "super bill" for free. They do not validate parking but neither do any of my healthcare providers at Kapi'olani/Queens.
They tend to get booked up quickly so they'll usually try to schedule at least four appointments for you ahead of time. If you're interested, they can put you on a waiting list and reach out to you if there ends up being an opening for a specific day that's currently booked. They send appointment reminders through text, which is helpful, and you can communicate with them through call, text, or email, though I believe there is a specific number to text that is different from the number on their website. read more