Your First Cheerful Appointment: What to Expect
March 31, 2025
You might have some questions in the lead-up to your first pelvic health physio appointment with us—and we’re here to answer them! We want you to feel supported, informed, confident and cared for from the very beginning, and throughout your pelvic health journey.
Good News: There’s No Prep Required
There’s no need to do anything special before your first appointment—our admin team and your physio will guide you through every step of the process.
We recommend wearing loose-fitting clothing that you feel comfortable moving around in. If you arrive in tighter pants or something less flexible, no worries—we have clean shorts on hand for you to change into.
How We Prepare for You
Ahead of your appointment, we take the time to thoughtfully match you with a physiotherapist whose expertise aligns with your needs. If it doesn’t feel like the right fit, that’s totally okay—we’re happy to find another provider who feels like a suitable match. Just let our admin team know and we can work with you to figure out how to better meet your needs.
Before your session, your physio will take the time to read through your Match Me form and intake form in depth. This helps them come to the appointment with a thorough understanding of your needs and goals so that your time together can be meaningful and productive.
Once You Arrive
When you walk into the clinic, a member of our admin team will be there to welcome you at the front desk. You are their priority, so if you need anything at all—whether it’s water, answers to your questions, or just a moment to settle in—they’re there to support you. If no one is at the desk, they’re likely assisting another client and will return as soon as they can.
Meeting Your Physiotherapist
When your physiotherapist is ready, they’ll come to the waiting room to greet you and bring you into a private treatment room. All of our treatment rooms are equipped with locking doors and window curtains, and you can decide what feels best for you (locked or unlocked, curtains open or closed). Each room also has a sink, tissues, and wipes if you’d like to freshen up at any point.
Depending on your needs, your physio might also use our communal movement space for exercise or functional assessments. Some clients prefer hands-on work in a private room, while others are excited to jump into movement-based work right away. We’ll always check in with you and figure out the best starting point based on your comfort and goals.
Aligning on Goals and Expectations
Your first appointment includes an in-depth conversation with your physio. You’ll talk about your medical history, daily activities, lifestyle, and any symptoms or concerns you’d like to explore. Think of it as a whole-person conversation—not just a focus on one area of your body.
We’ll also take the time to discuss your expectations, your current capacity, and your goals—both for the first session and for your care moving forward. If there’s anything you don’t want to do, or anything you’re especially interested in doing, let us know. We welcome your input at every stage!
Just a heads up that we likely won’t cover everything in the first session. Especially if your situation is complex, it may take a few visits before we can understand your full picture or start to make progress. That being said, we’ll be transparent about what we think your journey might look like, and what to expect as you move forward
Internal Exams and Physio Exercises
Some folks come in expecting an internal exam right away. Others might not be sure if they want one at all. Both are completely valid, and we can work to your level of comfort whatever route we decide to go. We have many tools in our toolkit, and an internal exam is just one of them.
Depending on your goals and what we learn during our initial conversation, your physio may recommend starting with movement, education, and/or hands-on work. They’ll walk you through their recommendations, and during this time, we encourage you to share any boundaries, questions, or preferences you might have.
If you and your physio decide that an internal exam is appropriate for your first appointment, here’s what you can expect: your physio will use one or two gloved, lubricated fingers to gently assess your pelvic floor muscles. We use sterile single-use lubricant packets, but if you have any concerns about allergies or sensitivities, you’re welcome to bring your own lube to the appointment.
For people with vaginas, the exam may begin with an external assessment of the labia, followed by a gentle insertion to assess how your muscles are functioning. You might be asked to squeeze or relax your pelvic floor muscles, or to do a standing assessment if your symptoms appear when you’re upright. But most importantly, we never assess past the point of pain. Our goal is to understand where any discomfort begins—not to push through it.
We understand that this kind of exam can feel awkward or anxiety-inducing, especially if it’s your first time. If we agree to move forward with it, we’ll walk you through each step, and you can pause, stop, or change direction at any time. We want to create a safe, supported space for you to get more comfortable with this kind of care. Unlike a pap or other medical procedures, we’re not here to collect a sample or meet a specific medical objective. We’re here to work with you to gather the information we need in a way that feels safe.
In some cases, we may also assess the pelvic floor through a rectal exam. This is the only internal exam we do for people with penises, but it is also an option for people with vaginas, depending on your history and symptoms. As always, we will only proceed if the exam is appropriate—and with your full consent.
And remember, there are always alternatives to internal exams. If you prefer, we can do an external-only assessment by gently palpating the perineum, meaning that we use our hands to check for certain indicators on the body. Some clients feel more comfortable doing a self-assessment with a mirror, which we can guide you through verbally. In certain cases, we might also use real-time ultrasound to look at your abdominal muscles, bladder, or perineum. Not all of our physios are trained in ultrasound, but if this tool would be helpful, we may invite a trained colleague to assist—again, with your permission.
Crafting a Care Plan
By the end of your first session, your physio will aim to identify the biggest priority to focus on first. And if it’s not yet clear, they’ll explain the next steps to help clarify what’s going on.
From there, your physio will outline a care plan tailored to your goals. This might include some quick wins, alongside a big-picture plan for rehab that takes your needs, capacity, and lifestyle into account. This plan isn’t just a list of exercises or treatments—it’s a roadmap we’ll use to track progress and celebrate milestones together.
Making a successful plan is a collaborative effort, so your feedback is essential here! If something doesn’t feel realistic or aligned with your day-to-day life, let us know. We want this plan to feel supportive and doable—not overwhelming.
We’ll revisit and revise your care plan together at each session to make sure we’re on track. We also know that life can throw curveballs, so if something stops working for you, or if your goals shift, we’ll adjust the plan together.
Need Support?
We’re always here to answer your questions or just talk things through. If something feels off—or you’re not sure why you’re feeling the way you are—reach out to our admin team or bring it up with your physio. You don’t need to have the “right” language to start the conversation.
Everyone deserves a cheerful pelvis, and we’re here to support you in getting there. Our goal is for you to leave each appointment feeling like you understand what’s happening with your body, you trust your physio to help you, and you feel ready to keep moving forward.
Ready to book or have a few more questions? Email us at hello@thecheerfulpelvis.com or call 604-879-6046. We’re here for you.