When it comes down to the pelvic floor (puns intended), most men think of the prostate and of ED (erectile dysfunction). Most men don’t think about their pelvic floor if they are not having problems!
(I know that this is a long read, so to cut to the chase, if you wonder if PT could help you, please contact me at 412-259-5342 or rebecca@embody-pt.com )
It is very important that if you are experiencing a change in your urinary function, erectile function or experiencing penile of pelvic pain that you discuss this with your physician to rule out infections (bladder, kidney or prostatitis) and other health issues prior to beginning pelvic PT. Some common problems to discuss with your physician:
- Burning or pain with urination, pain in the penis, or increased frequency. This could be indicative of prostatitis (inflammation of the prostate). The cause is often unclear but has 2 types: Bacterial and nonbacterial. Most people with prostatitis have NON-bacterial. Nonbacterial prostatitis is considered a pelvic floor dysfunction (related to the muscles and the soft tissues) or a pelvic pain problem. This IS definitely a diagnosis and concern that pelvic floor PT can address and help you with.
- Urinary frequency, difficulty with stream and leakage are also concerns that many men experience. Discuss this with your physician to assess bladder and prostate concerns, but PT is also helpful with these concerns after any serious concerns are ruled out!
- ED or erectile dysfunction. ED may be related to or caused by multiple things including cardiac concerns (heart health=hard health), medications and surgeries. Muscle function and pain can also impact on erectile function and this is where PT can be helpful.
- Pelvic pain may be related to the concerns noted above as well as muscle and fascia problems in the pelvic, abdomen and spine and hips. It’s all connected and important to assess the spine, sacrum, hips and how your parts move and work together.
““The problem with male pelvic pain is that it’s often misdiagnosed. These men have these symptoms and no one knows what to do with them. They often get treated with antibiotics but don’t improve. Sometimes they see multiple specialists before they get diagnosed with pelvic pain and receive comprehensive treatment including PT.” Nicole Motzny, PT, DPT (Vanderbilt Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation)
- Scarring and soft tissue restrictions after abdominal surgeries including but not limited to hernia and GI surgeries.
- Leakage and incontinence after prostatectomy. During prostatectomy, a large portion of the control mechanism for urination is lost as a result of the prostate removal. Immediately after surgery almost all men will have some incontinence for a period of time. With PT and retraining, control is regained. Research has shown that the earlier men begin post prostatectomy PT the quicker they regain control and continence. PLEASE NOTE….it’s NOT simply doing kegels! Learning to manage continence is more complex than simply “squeeze.” With early consistent therapy, about 90% of men regain urinary control.
What to expect with Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy:
Education and an open discussion. We want you to understand what your pelvic floor is, how it supports and work with your spine, trunk and organs. We talk about urinary and bowel habits, overall health and medications, work and recreational activities and yes, we discuss what your sexual activity is. All of these may be affected by pelvic floor symptoms.
A movement and strength assessment, looking at your spine, trunk, hips, bony pelvis (and often knees and ankles). Your pelvic floor is the base of the “core” or trunk and works with all of your body.
A pelvic floor assessment. At Embody, I have 2 primary ways to assess how your pelvic floor is moving and functioning. One is using Ultrasound to visualize the muscles, movement, bladder and pelvic floor. This is done through the abdomen and allows you to also see how the muscles and tissues are moving.
The other way to assess is by palpation. I am able to assess many of the muscles that support the pelvic floor and may create symptoms from the abdomen, hip and groin areas. I also am able to assess the pelvic floor by a rectal or internal assessment. This allows me to better determine painful muscles and tension, and then to provide cues to improve the symptoms.
There are many factors that contribute to your pelvic symptoms. We work together to determine the causes and then create a specific treatment program using exercise to strengthen and mobilize, to “relax” muscles that are overworking , to retrain and to help you regain full function.
Don’t ignore your symptoms. These can be quite common, but they are not normal. If you are experiencing symptoms such as ones I have listed above or wonder if physical therapy would be helpful, please contact me to discuss your concerns and learn if physical therapy would be helpful.
Rebecca Meehan PT has many years of experience and advanced training with pelvic health, musculoskeletal and orthopedic concerns and movement dysfunction in all genders. She works with each person individually, addressing their pain, movement and strength and function to meet their goals. Rebecca is the owner of Embody Physiotherapy & Wellness LLC and can be reached at rebecca@embody-pt.com