About

Holly Tanner, MA, PT, OCS, LMP, BCB-PMD, CCI was raised and educated in the Duluth area. After graduating from the Marshall School of Duluth she achieved her physical therapy degree at the College of St. Scholastica. A desire to be closer to family led to her return to Duluth after living on the West coast for over a decade. She brings to the area expertise in treating pelvic rehabilitation as well as chronic myofascial pain. As faculty for the Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute, Holly has lectured nationally, sharing her passion for helping others heal.

Holly has also served as adjunct faculty at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington. During her 11 years at Apple Physical Therapy in Washington state she developed the Women’s and Men’s Health programs as well as the Education program. She is board certified in Orthopedics, certified in Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction Biofeedback, holds a massage license in the state of Washington, and is a certified Clinical Instructor through the American Physical Therapy Association. Ms. Tanner is also a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, the American Massage Therapy Association, and the International Pelvic Pain Society.

You can read Holly’s blog posts on the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute website here.

Conditions Treated

Bladder Dysfunction

Urinary leakage (incontinence), retention, urgency/frequency, pain with urination, post-prostatectomy incontinence.

Bowel Dysfunction

Constipation, fecal incontinence (leakage), irritable bowel syndrome, abdominal discomfort.

Pelvic Pain

Pain located at any sites within the pelvis including the tailbone, pubic area, sacroiliac joints, buttocks, hips, genitals.

Sexual Dysfunction

Pain with sexual function, decreased sexual health.

Chronic myofascial pain at any site in the body.

FAQ

Will insurance cover physical therapy for pelvic rehabilitation?
If your insurance has physical therapy coverage, most insurances will cover pelvic rehabilitation issues as we use diagnosis and billing codes that are typical for physical therapy. You can contact your insurance to see if they cover physical therapy at “out-of network” rates.

Do I need a doctor’s referral?
Even if your insurance does not require a referral for physical therapy, I will ask that you have a referral for PT services. Pelvic health complaints such as pain or lack of continence can occur in conjunction with serious medical issues, therefore it is imperative that you have a medical provider screening you for such issues. It is also very helpful in coordinating care if there is a medical provider with whom I can communicate about your care.

How many visits will it take?
Historically I have seen most patients for pelvic rehabilitation at 1 time per week for 3-4 weeks, then decreased therapy frequency to every 2-3 weeks over the next 2 months. We will discuss ways for you to participate with a home program or with other care providers to enhance your recovery. I am also accustomed to providing consults for patients who can then return to care with other physical therapists, chiropractors, massage therapists, or any other care provider. Visits for uncomplicated urinary incontinence that focus on strengthening often can be completed in 30 minute follow-up sessions, whereas those who have chronic pain may require 45-60 minute sessions.

What can I expect on my first visit?
As in all physical therapy evaluations, we will first discuss your concerns and history. This will be followed by standard tests of movement, flexibility, and strength as appropriate to your condition. Because we may be interested in assessing the health of the pelvic floor muscles, an internal pelvic muscle assessment may be completed. To accomplish this, a gloved examining finger is placed inside the rectal or vaginal canal to determine tenderness, reproduction of symptoms, strength, endurance, and coordination of the muscles. This part of the exam is only completed with your consent and may be deferred or refused. There are many external treatments and home program concepts that can provide excellent relief from symptoms.

Do you treat men?
Absolutely. I have been treating men who have pelvic dysfunction for more than a decade. I also lecture nationally on the topic of male pelvic floor health, so I am very interested in sharing what I have learned with men who are suffering from symptoms of pain or loss of function.

(For women) Can I attend therapy if I am on my cycle?
The answer is most always “yes.” If you have a particularly heavy day and are not comfortable with attending, you may re-schedule or request to avoid any internal work.

Do you use biofeedback?
The clinic is equipped with biofeedback or surface EMG. This is a non-painful, minimally invasive tool that has been demonstrated to be helpful in recovering pelvic health and function.