Physical Therapy & Rehab at Kaiser

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  • Pelvic Floor PT at Kaiser vs out-of-network?

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    Sep 3, 2025

    Does anyone have recent experience with pelvic floor PT at Kaiser? I have Kaiser insurance but I know Kaiser PT can be hit or miss (from my and others' experience), so I'm considering going out of network to see a pelvic floor PT. My goal is to return to competitive sport postpartum in a pretty aggressive timeframe (4 months).

    Sep 3, 2025

    I'd go out of network. It takes forever to get in at kaiser and who knows how many appts they will grant you.  Especially since you have an "aggressive timeline" 

    One thing I suggest is do the exercises every day, whatever it takes. I know this sounds obvious but PT is so damn boring it's sort of assumed people really don't do it in between. I struggle with it! but since you have a big goal that could be motiviating. 

    I recommend Romy Havard at Peregrin PT, for pelvic floor PT. 

    good luck

    Sep 10, 2025

    I'd recommend the Natal app. I'm on day 70 of the program and it's been life changing after my second kid.  Her core rehab program is 3 months. You can basically start on day 1 postpartum with the breathing exercises (these are hard and core to the program don't skip them!). The program targets all the things that get wreaked during pregnancy like your posterior chain and posture in addition to your pelvic floor. I'm not currently a competative athlete, but I was in College and since then I've worked out 5/6 days a week (pilates, running powerlifting). Movement is super important to me. I didn't have an a amazing experience with PT therapy. I've been telling everyone I know about this program because it's helped me so much!

    Sep 10, 2025

    I don't have experience at Kaiser, but I did a lot of PT postpartum. 

    In trying a number of pelvic PTs, my favorite was Bettina at Rising Sun in SF. https://risingsunphysicaltherapy.com

    However I want to add - talk to your OB about an honest assessment of how things look and what you want to be able to accomplish. For me, returning to a very active lifestyle with running, jumping, weight lifting, etc wasn't possible with PT alone. I needed a surgery to address the prolapse. You might not need that, but I want to mention it so it is kept in mind as an option if PT isn't enough.

    Sep 10, 2025

    Hi! 

    I just started at Kaiser PT, so far so good. I think it depends on what injury you have and how your birth went. 

    That being said, if you have disposable income, going private you would get seen more and quicker. 

    -as 

    Sep 10, 2025

    It can take a little hoop jumping to get in with Kaiser pelvic floor PT (referral from your doctor, some kind of ‘pelvic floor class’) but once you do they are lovely and have hour long appointments and are pretty easy to schedule with. I saw Carol Anne Wong in Oakland, I know there is someone else who people really love whose name I’m forgetting but I bet someone else here will know. 

    Sep 10, 2025
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  • Kaiser Oakland Physical Medicine and Rehab for spine/Dr. Sheikh

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    Feb 2, 2023

    After an MRI showing some unfortunate stuff going on with my lower spine and causing nerve issues in my legs and feet, I've been referred to the Kaiser Oakland Department of Physical Medicine and Rehab, where I will be seeing Dr. Sheikh.  (1) Does anyone have experience with Dr. Sheikh, either at Kaiser or at Rossmoor (which is where the internet seems to think she works), and/or (2) any advice about working with the Physical Medicine and Rehab department for spine issues?  Since there doesn't seem to be any information available about Dr. Sheikh, does anyone have another doctor they'd like to recommend in this department, just in case I end up needing the information?  Thanks very much!  This is all new to me.

    Feb 2, 2023

    Hi!

    I’m currently working with Dr. Sheikh. You’re in great hands. She’s very kind and empathetic, and will work really hard to make sure you get the care you need. She actually added an appointment to her calendar last week to see me in between procedures, to ensure I could get my next procedure scheduled. I wouldn’t look for anyone different. 
     

    the biggest advice I could give you about working with the PT department is to both be ready to practice patience, yet also make sure to advocate. What I’ve learned working with Kaiser specialties is that they are just so impacted. So there tends to be long waits for appointments and procedures. The procedure I scheduled last week is two months out. Though to be honest, my waits outside if Kaiser were similar. 
     

    Also, try not to be turned off with the staff you speak to to get things scheduled. Some have been downright rude, most sound curt (maybe they are busy), but a couple have been really nice. Don’t expect a call back if you leave a message, that’s hit or miss. Hmmm, what else?!? Oh, if you message Dr. Sheikh, she may take a day or two to respond. I was eager after a procedure a couple weeks ago, so hounded her a bit, and she was polite about it but I probably didn’t need to. Ask if physical therapy will be beneficial, and don’t accept virtual PT- it doesn’t help. 
     

    As a reference- I’ve been dealing with chronic neck pain for the last 3 or so years. My Sutter doctors found the spine narrowing and nerve issues about 2 years ago, but I had an insurance switch while waiting for the specialist appointment. Had to start all over- new MRI, specialist appointments, etc. I was referred to Physical Medicine last July, had my appt with Dr. Sheikh in August, had to reschedule my first neck procedure in October to January, and not the next (and hopefully longer term solution) one will be in April. My procedure was in Richmond, and that doctor was also great. 
     

    I think you’re in good hands. Good luck with everything! 

    Erin

    Feb 8, 2023

    I'm now going to answer my own question!  I recently had my appointment with Dr. Sheikh, and she was kind, knowledgeable, and very thorough.  So, thumbs-up!

    Feb 9, 2023

  • Pelvic floor therapy at Kaiser

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    Jan 5, 2019

    I have a 1 year old, and after a very long labor, things still don’t feel quite the same. I’m thinking a pelvic floor therapist would be helpful. Does anyone have a recommendation for someone at Kaiser who specializes in these issues? Especially Kaiser Richmond? Thanks!

    Jan 5, 2019

    The only person I’ve heard of through Kaiser is Rachel Gonsalves in Oakland. In my experience, you have to attend a group class before they will give you an individual appointment. I wasn’t able to attend the class because life is so unpredictable with a newborn so I haven’t gotten an appointment yet but my chiropractor recommended her and hopefully I will get in to work with her soon. 

    Jan 9, 2019

    FYI that's not how PT referral works at Kaiser.  (You cannot just get a rec and call for an appt like with PPO insurance.)  There is a pelvic floor specialist (wait is 6-8 weeks when I was referred in fall, and there is just one PF specialist), and they are at Kaiser Oakland so you'll have to drive down from Richmond.  Your OB/GYN can refer you to PT - just make sure they write "pelvic floor specialist" so you get the right person.  The specialist can then work out a treatment plan.  If there's a medical reason you need care sooner or can't drive to Oakland you might be able to work the denial of service letter process to get a letter to go out-of-network but that is highly, highly unlikely.   Hope this helps.  (I work for KP so fairly well versed in policy there.)   I would recommend you make an appt with your OB/GYN in-person so they can do the pelvic exam and document the problem.  In my case - there were some other issues going on that needed to be resolved (from my 3 hrs of pushing!) and resolving those actually fixed the problem moreso than the PT!

    Jan 9, 2019

    consider taking a workshop with Beth Z at léela yoya in alameda. she leads pelvic floor rehab classes and is great! and fun too!

    Jan 9, 2019

    I had pelvic floor PT at Kaiser Oakland a couple of years ago, and they only had one pelvic PT. If Richmond has one, they're likely to only have one as well, or you may need to go to Oakland. Your gyn should be able to refer you, but you probably don't have to go in with a name since you probably won't have a choice of more than one provider.

    Jan 9, 2019

    Three years ago I was referred to a pelvic specialist physical therapist by my gynecologist and she was great. She’s at Kaiser Richmond: Barbara Leivonen, PT Dept, 510-307-1551. Hope she’s still there. 

    Jan 9, 2019

  • Kaiser Oakland Physical Therapist

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    Sep 2, 2018

    I would very much appreciate any recommendations for top notch physical therapists at the Oakland (Richmond is the second choice) Kaiser location. It would be great if the person would be especially familiar with hip issues as I have been recently diagnosed with arthritis there and need some therapy and exercises to help relieve the discomfort. Many thnaks.

    Sep 2, 2018

    I have had great experiences at the Kaiser Oakland Physical Therapy offices with Wayne (can't recall last name) and Arlene Suda.  Both study your problem intensely and then design treatments and home exercises to alleviate pain and discomfort.  I have no idea if they are especially familiar with hips, but Arlene did treat me once for hip discomfort.  All gone now, as it was very shortly after she gave me a set of exercises.

    Sep 6, 2018

  • Lower Back Pain treatment at Kaiser Physical Therapy

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    Jun 12, 2017

    Hi,

    Does anyone have experience with Kaiser PT to treat a lower back SI injury with sciatica, would like to hear your thoughts and any particular providers you would recommend?

    Thanks!

    Jun 12, 2017

    See if you can get in to the Physiatry Dept., also called "Physical Medicine."  This specialty deals non-surgically with orthopedic conditions, and the docs there seem to know more how physical therapy works.  The main problem I've found with KP PT is that they limit the number of sessions per diagnosis -- usually to about 5.  You can get good mileage out of this if you diligently do the prescribed exercises.  I have had good care from the physical therapist Arlene Suda at Oakland KP -- she knows what she is doing.  Also, it is good to know that Kaiser has recently expanded their acupuncture coverage.  If you want highly focused and knowledgeable care and can afford to go outside the system, Beacon Physical Therapy in downtown SF (easy BART ride) employs a highly effective technique that can actually bring more flexibility to the SI joint and ease structural anomalies.

    Jun 14, 2017

    I saw several PTs (and doctors, and back specialists, and pain specialists) at Kaiser and some private pay, all for back pain related to my SI. None was a miracle worker, but I would recommend Jaime Hitteratchi at Kaiser Oakland. I made the most progress with her and she thinks more out of the box than other Kaiser practitioners. 

    Jun 14, 2017
RE:
Pediatric PT (Dec 7, 2018)

We really liked the PTs we saw at Kaiser Oakland. Heather was great and from what I saw, the whole team was top notch too.

Dec 19, 2018
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Physical Therapy & Rehab at Kaiser