Valley Outpatient Rehabilitation Women’s Health Center

Helping patient’s lead comfortable, confident and healthy lives

OSPTA’s partner, Valley Outpatient Rehabilitation (VOR) provides exceptional patient care to treat all types of pelvic floor weakness, urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, erectile dysfunction and pregnancy related conditions.  All treatments are performed by a licensed physical therapist with specific training to meet the unique needs of women and men.

You should not suffer from pain, discomfort or embarrassment. With the assistance of a licensed pelvic floor physical therapist – you can find RELIEF. 

VOR Services For Women

Pelvic Floor Pain – If you suffer from pelvic floor pain disorders such as vulvodynia, dyspareunia, vaginismus - pelvic floor physical therapists can help.  Pain can be eliminated or relieved through an individualized treatment to include: pelvic floor muscle massage, dilators, ultrasounds, biofeedback, home exercise programs and muscular re-education. 

Urinary Incontinence - Patients who suffer from urinary incontinence – when urine leaks at an undesirable time and without control – can also find relief with the assistance of a licensed pelvic floor physical therapist.

Pregnancy - Pregnancy brings about many changes in a woman’s life and body. During this special time, your posture changes and lower back pain and other joint related injuries can increase.  Pelvic floor physical therapists provide education and individual exercise programs - advised by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists - are developed to help relieve pain associated with pregnancy.

VOR Services For Men

Pelvic Floor Pain- If you suffer from pelvic floor pain disorders, such as, prostatodynia, proctalgia fugax, pudendal neuralgia- pelvic floor physical therapist can help.  Pain can be eliminated or relieved through an individualized treatment to include:  pelvic floor massage, ultrasound, biofeedback, muscular re-education, relaxation techniques and home exercise programs.

Urinary Incontinence- Patients who suffer from urinary incontinence- when urine leaks at an undesirable time and without control- can also find relief with the assistance of a licensed pelvic floor physical therapist.  Men often experience incontinence as a result of surgery to the prostate.  Pelvic floor physical therapy can help to restore continence and decrease the use of pads.

Erectile Dysfunction- Patients who suffer from erectile dysfunction can benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy, through biofeedback, muscular re-education and electrical stimulation.

Make an appointment to speak with a pelvic floor physical therapist today. Contact Martha Patterson-Avery, DPT at 724.379.7130

Frequently Asked Questions – Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

What is pelvic floor physical therapy?

Pelvic floor physical therapy is the treatment to enhance pelvic floor strength and relieve pelvic pain and pregnancy related conditions. The pelvic floor is comprised of a group of muscles that supports the abdominal organs, controls the release of bodily fluids, aids in the stability of the lower back and pelvic bones and also increases sexual functionality.

Is pelvic floor physical therapy safe?

Pelvic floor physical therapy has been an accepted advanced subspecialty by The American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) since 1993.

Is pelvic floor physical therapy covered by my health insurance?

Pelvic floor physical therapy services require a physician’s prescription and women must be evaluated by a gynecologist within 6 months of treatment.  Pelvic floor physical therapy is typically covered through most medical insurances. Please contact your medical insurance company for details.

How is pelvic floor pain treated?

Pelvic floor therapy includes six to eight sessions with a licensed physical therapist.  The pelvic floor is treated by physical therapy through pelvic floor muscular re-education, bladder re-training, patient education, electrical stimulation and an individualized home exercise program. 

What can I expect to happen during my appointment?

All treatments are one-on-one and in a private, comfortable room. A licensed physical therapist would complete a physical examination of your lower back/legs to determine your lower extremity strength/flexibility. Then your abdominal strength will be tested and finally your therapist will conduct an external and internal examination of the pelvic floor musculature.  After examination you will receive an individualized treatment program that is designed to best help you achieve your goals. 

Who will be my physical therapist?

Martha Patterson-Avery, DPT, is a licensed physical therapist who specializes in women’s health and pelvic floor rehabilitation physical therapy and has over five years of experience, training and education. 

Martha is currently the director of the first ever Women’s Health Center at the Valley Outpatient Rehabilitation (VOR) in the Mon Valley area.  At VOR, Martha provides a specialized service to help women lead comfortable, confident and healthy lives.  Martha works closely with a patient’s physician to provide a multidisciplinary approach for healing discomfort and pain within the pelvis and low back areas to provide specialized services to help alleviate pain, increase function and improve the tone of the pelvic floor.

Martha also examines and treats patients at the Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy Associates (OSPTA), Inc.  Martha works with patients and their primary care physician’s to develop a plan of care to rehabilitate patients through manual therapy, exercises, stretching and home exercise programs.  Martha supervises a team of physical therapy assistants and therapists as well as office management personnel.  Because continual education is important to Martha, she spends part of her time overseeing and teaching physical therapy students’ proper examination and treatment skills. 

Martha received a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Chatham University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.   She earned a Bachelor of Science in biology and a minor in biochemistry from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.