Men’s Health Matters: A Focus on Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Men Have Pelvic Floors Too!
Pelvic floor disorders are often misunderstood to be primarily a women’s issue, especially during the pregnancy and postpartum years, but did you know that it’s common for men to suffer from pelvic floor issues as well? These symptoms can include pelvic pain, as well as urinary, erectile and bowel dysfunction, which can all significantly affect a man’s quality of life.
Common Issues in Men
Although vastly different than a female’s anatomy, the male pelvic floor is similar in that it consists of a group of muscles, nerves, and connective tissues that support the bladder, bowel and sexual function. Dysfunction in any of these areas can cause the following disorders:
Pelvic Pain Syndrome: Chronic pelvic pain in men can be caused by muscle tension, nerve irritation or other factors.
Urinary Dysfunction: Problems like urinary frequency, urgency, hesitancy, and incontinence.
Erectile Dysfunction: Pelvic floor muscle tension or weakness may contribute to erectile dysfunction in some men.
Bowel Dysfunction: Constipation, fecal incontinence, and pelvic floor dyssynergia (incoordination of pelvic floor muscles during defecation) can be caused by pelvic floor disorders.
Causes of Pelvic Floor Disorders in Men
As men get older, their pelvic floor muscles naturally weaken, which can lead to urinary incontinence or other issues. Additional risk factors include chronic constipation or coughing, obesity, or recently having prostate or pelvic surgery. All of these conditions or symptoms can put stress and pressure on the pelvic floor over time, leading to weakened muscles and pelvic floor dysfunction.
Physical Therapy Can Help
Thankfully, physical therapy is an equally effective treatment for addressing pelvic floor issues in men as in women. Consistent treatments and exercises can help men improve their pelvic muscle strength and control, increase blood flow, and reduce pain and discomfort. Pelvic floor PT can also help men regain bladder control, bowel control and even address erectile dysfunction.
Our physical therapists are specialized in treating men’s pelvic floor issues and use individualized treatments for all of our patients. This includes a variety of methods to assess and treat the pelvic floor muscles, including internal and external manual therapy techniques, exercises to strengthen or relax specific muscles, and education on lifestyle modifications and techniques to manage symptoms.
Optimizing Prostate Surgery Outcomes
Pelvic floor physical therapy is also extremely effective before and after pelvic or prostate surgery to help optimize outcomes and facilitate recovery. Rehabilitation can also help to mitigate the side effects of treatment for prostate cancer, such as urinary incontinence. A recent study has shown that men who have started pelvic floor physical therapy prior to prostate surgery had significantly less leakage at 3 months post-surgery than men who waited until after surgery to start physical therapy.
Pelvic floor physical therapy is a specialized and evidence-based approach to address a range of conditions for BOTH men and women, from pelvic pain to urinary incontinence. Our experienced and compassionate team is dedicated to providing personalized care to all of our patients!