Pregnancy changes your body faster than most clinical settings can keep up with. At Physica Medica, prenatal PT is not a side offering — it is one of the primary reasons patients come here. You see the same DPT at every visit, someone with 15 years of clinical experience who tracks your body's changes week to week and adjusts treatment accordingly.
Your first session is an assessment. Your DPT takes a full history — obstetric background, current symptoms, prior injuries, activity level — and performs a hands-on evaluation to identify what is actually driving your pain. That might be pelvic girdle instability, a shift in your center of gravity loading the lumbar spine differently, or early diastasis recti affecting your core mechanics.
Treatment is manual and specific. Depending on your presentation, that may include soft tissue work, joint mobilization, pelvic floor assessment, postural correction, and targeted exercise. No two sessions are templated — what you need at 18 weeks is different from what you need at 32 weeks, and your treatment reflects that.
Sessions run one-on-one for the full hour. No aides, no rotating staff, no spending half the session with a tech running a heating pad while your actual PT is down the hall. The person who assessed you is the person treating you.
If your OB or midwife referred you, bring that referral and your insurance card. Your DPT can coordinate directly with your obstetric team when clinical communication is warranted.
Pregnancy-related pain is not something to manage through. Most of it has a mechanical explanation and a clinical solution. These are the conditions we treat most often.
I had a great experience getting treatment from Dr. Maks. I was having lower back problems and felt like my self-treatment stalled so I started to work with him. He helped me diagnose my injury and was very knowledgeable around different strategies that helped me get to full recovery.
One of the most common and most undertreated sources of pregnancy pain. Hormonal changes increase ligament laxity, and the SI joint and pubic symphysis often bear the load. Manual therapy and targeted stabilization work can make a significant difference.
Maks is not only knowledgeable, but highly intuitive, thus making him a natural healer. He's attentive and compassionate, and if you are willing to put in the work he is willing to support you every step of the way.
One of the most common and most undertreated sources of pregnancy pain. Hormonal changes increase ligament laxity, and the SI joint and pubic symphysis often bear the load. Manual therapy and targeted stabilization work can make a significant difference.
I have been seeing Max for 6 weeks. I tore a muscle, resulting in difficulty walking. Using the routines Max provided, along with my weekly visits, I am no longer in pain. Max's technique and level of professionalism put me at ease as I was evaluating different ways to resolve this problem.
One of the most common and most undertreated sources of pregnancy pain. Hormonal changes increase ligament laxity, and the SI joint and pubic symphysis often bear the load. Manual therapy and targeted stabilization work can make a significant difference.
Maks is amazing! He helped me work through an Achilles injury that I had been "living with" for years and helped me learn so much about my body! I now know how so much more about movement and how to fix things in my body when they hurt. Thanks!!!!
One of the most common and most undertreated sources of pregnancy pain. Hormonal changes increase ligament laxity, and the SI joint and pubic symphysis often bear the load. Manual therapy and targeted stabilization work can make a significant difference.
Professional and pleasant. Listens to what’s going on and takes into account your lifestyle. Pinpoints the problems and attacks. Always move better after a session with him.
One of the most common and most undertreated sources of pregnancy pain. Hormonal changes increase ligament laxity, and the SI joint and pubic symphysis often bear the load. Manual therapy and targeted stabilization work can make a significant difference.
Most PT clinics will see pregnant patients. Few have made prenatal care a clinical focus. The difference shows up in the assessment — whether your therapist is screening for diastasis recti and pelvic floor involvement, or just treating the back pain in isolation.
Dr. Maks holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree, is board-certified as an Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS), and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists (FAAOMPT). That final credential is held by fewer than 3% of practicing physical therapists in the country. It represents advanced clinical training in manual therapy and musculoskeletal diagnosis.
Prenatal care requires continuity. Your body changes week to week during pregnancy, and a therapist who saw you two sessions ago and is reading notes to catch up is not the same as one who has been tracking your presentation in person. At Physica Medica, you see the same doctoral-level clinician every time.
Physica Medica works alongside your OB, midwife, or maternal-fetal medicine specialist — not in place of them. If your provider referred you here, your DPT can communicate back with that team when clinically relevant. If you are self-referring, we can provide documentation your OB may find useful.
Your therapist re-tests range of motion and the symptom that brought you in. You leave with a clear sense of what changed and what's next.
Sore after? Mild soreness for 24–48 hours is normal, similar to a hard workout. Bruising is uncommon but possible at deeper insertion sites. We give every patient specific aftercare guidance based on the regions treated.
The short answer: earlier than most people think. You do not need to be in significant pain to benefit from prenatal PT. Early assessment can identify mechanics that are likely to become problems later — and address them before they do.
Physica Medica is located at 800 S Bond Street in Fells Point — accessible from Canton, Harbor East, Federal Hill, and the surrounding neighborhoods. Street parking is available, and the clinic is a short distance from the Canton waterfront.
If you were referred by your OB or midwife, bring your referral slip, insurance card, and any relevant imaging. If you are self-referring, none of that is required to book — your DPT will gather what is needed at your first session.
Prenatal physical therapy is covered by many insurance plans, but coverage varies. Some plans cover it under standard PT benefits with a copay or toward your deductible. Others require a physician referral for reimbursement. The fastest way to know what you owe is to call your insurance company before your first session and ask specifically whether outpatient physical therapy is covered and whether a referral is required.
Out-of-pocket rates at Physica Medica run $145–$220 per session, depending on session type and complexity. Superbills are provided for patients seeking out-of-network reimbursement from their insurer.
If cost is a real concern, say so when you call. A free 30-minute movement screen can help clarify whether ongoing PT is the right fit before you commit to a full course of care.
If something not covered here is the only thing standing between you and booking, call 443-228-8029. Direct questions get direct answers.
Is physical therapy safe during pregnancy? Yes, when performed by a clinician trained in prenatal care. Your DPT screens for contraindications at the outset and adjusts positioning, pressure, and technique throughout your pregnancy. Treatment is hands-on and specific — not generic or forceful. Your safety and your baby's are factored into every clinical decision.
How many sessions will I need during my pregnancy? It depends on your presentation and how far along you are. Many patients see meaningful improvement in 4–8 sessions. Some come in for a focused course of care to address a specific problem; others prefer to be seen periodically through the third trimester. Your DPT will give you a realistic estimate after your initial assessment — not a vague range designed to keep you coming back.
Does insurance cover prenatal physical therapy? Often, yes — but the specifics depend on your plan. Most plans that cover outpatient PT will apply that coverage to prenatal PT as well. Some require a physician referral for reimbursement. Call your insurer directly and ask about outpatient physical therapy benefits, then call us at 443-228-8029 if you have questions about what we can provide. Superbills are available for out-of-network reimbursement.
Same needle, different framework. Dry needling is a Western neuromuscular technique targeting trigger points identified through clinical examination, with the goal of resetting muscle dysfunction. Acupuncture is a Traditional Chinese Medicine practice targeting meridian points within an energetic framework. Both can be valuable for the right person, addressing overlapping problems with different reasoning. Dry needling at Physica Medica is performed by physical therapists, integrated into a PT plan, and measured against functional outcomes.
Most patients see meaningful change within 3–6 sessions, with maintenance visits as needed for chronic or recurrent presentations. Acute trigger-point cases sometimes resolve in 1–2 sessions. Complex chronic cases involving multiple regions and movement compensations typically require 8–12 visits to durably consolidate. We tell you our honest estimate after the initial assessment and re-evaluate at the four-week mark.
The most common reason "PT didn't work" is one of three things: too-short sessions, rotating providers, or protocol-driven exercise without hands-on diagnosis. Fellowship-trained manual therapy with dry needling integrated into a 45–60 minute one-on-one session is a different intervention. We'll tell you honestly within the first session whether we think we can help your case. If not, we'll point you to the right resource.
