Men’s pelvic health

Pelvic Physical Therapy for Men

Men, do you wake up many times a night to urinate? Do you miss sleeping through the night and feeling rested in the morning? Many men do not realize that urge incontinence, as well as many other issues related to pelvic floor function, can be fixed or improved by physical therapy. If you have urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, pelvic pain, testicular pain, or are recovering from prostate surgery, you should seek out pelvic health physical therapy.

The pelvic floor consists of several muscles that stabilize and connect to the underside of the pelvis. They also attach to or directly support the genitals, rectum, and prostate. Since they also connect to the hips, low back and pelvis, these muscles are instrumental in the synchronization of the entire trunk and midsection. Kegel exercises are an excellent way to make these muscles stronger. Everyone, from new mothers to high performing athletes to older men, should consider strengthening these muscles.

In addition, like many other musculoskeletal issues with the body, pelvic floor dysfunction can be influenced by the thoracic spine, lumbar spine, sacral spine, hip joint, as well as the surrounding musculature. All these areas can be assessed and treated by a physical therapist.

As previously mentioned, there are several dysfunctions of the pelvic floor that can be treated with physical therapy.  If you are struggling with any of them, please reach out to Spine and Sports Rehabilitation Center and schedule a consultation with Philippe Schafer, PT, DPT

Urinary and Fecal Incontinence:

There are many ways that one can improve incontinence. Learning how to engage the pelvic floor muscles can directly increase your ability to control urination and defecation. Also, understanding the related physiological mechanisms will greatly help. For a basic understanding, please click the link below.

Urinary incontinence - Diagnosis and treatment - Mayo Clinic

Erectile Dysfunction:

There are a variety of causes for erectile dysfunction. It can be caused by vascular (blood flow), neurogenic (nerves), metabolic (diabetes), or musculoskeletal issues. Having a physical therapist evaluate you can help determine the potential causes of your specific issues.  For example, treating the thoracic spine, lumbar spine, sacrum, as well as the pelvic floor musculature may aid with improving erectile dysfunction. If you would like to learn more, please click the link below.

Erectile Dysfunction Treatment Through Physical Therapy (menshealth.com)

Pre and Post Prostate Surgery:

After undergoing radiation and prostate surgery, the pelvic floor musculature, as well as the surrounding muscles in the low back, abdominal and hip region, can be severely compromised. It is extremely important to rehabilitate all of those areas. If you would like to learn more, please click the following link.

Physical Therapy After Prostatectomy (nafc.org)

Pelvic Pain, Testicular pain, Genital pain:

Nerve roots from the thoracic spine, lumbar spine, and sacral spine are responsible for controlling sensation in the pelvic and groin region. In addition, many stiff muscles in that area can cause referral pain to the groin region. Therefore, any of the muscles in the gluteal, adductor, hip flexor, or pelvic floor may contribute to discomfort in the genitals or around the pelvis. If you are experiencing pain in the pelvic region, there could be a variety of causes. It is recommended that you check with your physician first, then schedule an appointment for physical therapy.

Pelvic Pain in Men: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments (healthline.com)

Any of the above issue can cause a detrimental impact on a man’s day to day life. If you are struggling with any of them, please reach out to Spine and Sports Rehabilitation Center and schedule a consultation with Philippe Schafer, PT, DPT