Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy for Men: What You Need to Know
TL;DR
Introducing pelvic floor physical therapy for men and lists conditions that may warrant it, including urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, erectile dysfunction, post-prostatectomy recovery, chronic constipation, and post-surgical rehabilitation. It describes what an initial evaluation covers and the treatments used in follow-up sessions, such as manual therapy, exercises, breathing education, and bladder and bowel training.
Pelvic floor physical therapy treatment has been associated with treatment for women especially since the pelvic floor is directly impacted from childbearing and birthing. However, men can also benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy. This blog will discuss some of the symptoms that men may experience in the pelvic floor that may warrant pelvic floor physical therapy.
Urinary incontinence: involuntary leakage of urine. Urinary leakage may be caused from prostate surgery, bladder and/or pelvic floor dysfunction.
Pelvic pain: pain in the pelvic floor muscles from conditions such as prostatitis, pudendal neuralgia, pelvic girdle fractures, hernias, athletic pubalgia, increased tension in the pelvic floor muscles, or other underlying musculoskeletal and neuromuscular disorders. Men may feel pelvic floor pain in the penis, testicles, scrotum, perineum, anus, groin, or abdomen.
Erectile dysfunction (ED): characterized by decreased ability to maintain an erection. It is commonly related to increased age but it can be impacted by pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, decreased blood circulation, nerve compression, or decreased spinal mobility.
Post-prostatectomy rehabilitation: following a procedure involving the prostate, men may need therapy to address complications such as urinary incontinence or erectile dysfunction.
Chronic constipation: involving bowel dysfunction including straining, pain, decreased frequency of bowel movements, hard or loose stool.
Post-surgical rehabilitation: any surgeries involving the back, hips, pelvis, and abdomen including but not limited to hernia repairs, prostatectomy, repair for athletic pubalgia, and back surgery.
What can you expect from an initial evaluation during pelvic floor physical therapy for men’s health? A physical therapist will ask questions regarding your symptoms that are related to bladder, bowel, sexual function, and pain. They will perform an objective exam obsergiving posture, pelvic girdle alignment, assessing pelvis and spinal movement and strength, pelvic floor muscle function, breathing mechanics, and any other structures that may be related to pelvic floor function. This information will guide the physical therapist on what to address and provide an individualized home exercise program.
During follow up sessions, pelvic floor physical therapy utilizes manual therapy techniques, exercises, posture and breathing education, dry needling, bladder and bowel training, modalities, and neuromuscular re-education to restore mobility, improve strength, alleviate pain, address scar tissue to facilitate overall recovery.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the opinion of the author, unless otherwise noted, and should not be taken as personal medical advice. The information provided is intended to help readers make their own informed health and wellness decisions.
