What to Expect at Foundations Physical Therapy
Your healing journey begins with a thorough assessment of your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle factors — followed by a personalized treatment plan and hands-on care from a doctoral-trained pelvic floor specialist.
Before Your First Visit
Once you book, you'll complete your intake forms through Jane, our scheduling and patient portal — medical history, current symptoms, prior treatments, goals, and acknowledgment of our policies and pricing. A valid credit card is required on file to confirm the appointment; it's a placeholder, and nothing is charged when you keep your appointments or cancel with notice. Completing everything ahead of time means your full 60 minutes stays focused on you — not paperwork. If you'd rather book by phone, the intake call takes about ten minutes.
If you have records from a referring provider, prior pelvic imaging (ultrasound, MRI), or notes from a previous PT, bring them. They help us build a more complete picture quickly.
What to Wear
Wear comfortable clothing you can move in — leggings or athletic shorts, a t-shirt or tank top. We may ask you to perform movement assessments (squatting, lunging, single-leg balance), and clothing that lets you move freely makes that easier.
The First Visit Itself
1. Conversation (15-20 minutes)
We start by talking. We want to understand what's brought you in, what you've already tried, how symptoms affect your daily life, and what you most want to get back to. This isn't a checklist — it's a real conversation about your body and your life.
2. Movement & Musculoskeletal Assessment (15-20 minutes)
We assess how your whole body moves: posture, breath patterns, hip mobility, core strength, lifting mechanics, gait if relevant. The pelvic floor connects to everything — we look at the whole system.
3. Pelvic Floor Assessment (when appropriate)
If your symptoms warrant it and you consent, your therapist may perform an internal pelvic floor assessment to evaluate muscle tone, coordination, strength, and any areas of tension or pain. This is always done with your full informed consent, you stay in control the entire time, and it is never required on a first visit.
If you'd prefer to wait until a follow-up appointment, or skip internal assessment entirely, we'll work around your comfort. Many patients benefit greatly from external-only treatment.
4. Treatment Plan & First Interventions (15-20 minutes)
We share what we found, what we recommend, and why. You'll usually leave the first visit with an understanding of your symptoms and what may be contributing to them, education, and a plan tailored to your situation.
How Many Visits Will I Need?
It depends on what's going on. Acute conditions or specific symptoms often resolve in 10 or so visits. Complex or long-standing concerns may take longer. We'll discuss expectations at your first visit and reassess at every appointment so you always know what's next.
Frequency
How often you come in is decided together with your therapist, but typically patients attend physical therapy 1-2x/week and do their home program daily. We tailor our plan of care to your goals, your symptoms, and how your body responds, and we revisit it as you progress. Your plan is built with you, for you — and with consistency in treatment visits as well as your home program, you can expect to see results.
Common Questions About Your First Visit
Do I need a referral from my doctor?
No — New York is a direct access state, meaning you can see a physical therapist initially without a prescription. After one month or 10 visits, whichever comes first, you will need a prescription from a referring provider (MD, NP, or PA). For Medicare patients, you will need a referral or a signed plan of care after the evaluation.
What if I'm pregnant or on my period?
Both are completely fine. We work with pregnant patients across every trimester. Menstruation does not prevent pelvic floor assessment or treatment — many patients keep their appointments without issue. If you'd prefer to reschedule, just let us know.
Is internal pelvic floor work required?
No. Internal assessment is informative and often valuable, but it is always optional. You can decline at any time, defer to a later visit, or never have one and still benefit significantly from treatment.
Can my partner or support person come with me?
Yes. If you'd feel more comfortable having someone with you, they're welcome. We can also include them in education portions of the visit if that's helpful.
How quickly will I see results?
Most patients notice some change in the first 1-3 visits, even if the underlying issue takes longer to fully resolve. We measure progress at every visit and adjust your plan accordingly.
Do you offer telehealth or virtual visits?
Treatment at Foundations is in-person only — hands-on assessment and treatment are central to what we do. The free 15-minute consultation, however, can happen by phone or video, and once you're a patient you can message your therapist anytime through the Jane patient portal.
Why do I need a credit card to book? What's the cancellation policy?
A valid credit card is required to confirm any appointment. It's a placeholder — nothing is charged when you attend or cancel with notice. Canceling between 48 and 24 hours before your appointment incurs half the session fee; under 24 hours, the full fee. To cancel or reschedule, call the office at 914-768-3802 or email info@foundations-pt.com rather than contacting your therapist directly.
How do I know which therapist works which days?
Each therapist keeps a different schedule, including some early-morning and evening appointment slots. The online booking calendar shows exactly who's available on which days — or call us and we'll match you with a therapist who fits your schedule.
Office phones and email are staffed 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday. Appointment times run beyond that — most days we maintain 7am-7pm availability depending on the therapist (Fridays until 5) — so if standard hours don't work for you, ask.
Ready to Book?
If you're not sure where to start, schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation. We'll talk through what you're experiencing and whether pelvic floor PT is the right next step for you.