Men's Pelvic Physical Therapy: It's Not Just for Prostate Cancer

When people hear "pelvic physical therapy," they often assume it's only for women or for men recovering from prostate cancer treatment. In reality, pelvic physical therapy can benefit men of all ages dealing with a wide range of symptoms involving the bladder, bowels, pelvis, hips, and sexual health.

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that support the bladder and bowel, help control urination and bowel movements, contribute to sexual function, and work together with the abdominal and hip muscles to provide stability and movement. Like any other muscle group, the pelvic floor can become weak, tight, overactive, painful, or uncoordinated.

Men may seek pelvic physical therapy for reasons including:

• Urinary leakage or urgency
• Frequent nighttime urination
• Difficulty starting or fully emptying the bladder
• Pelvic, groin, tailbone, or lower abdominal pain
• Chronic prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome
• Pain during or after ejaculation
• Erectile dysfunction
• Constipation or bowel dysfunction
• Hip, low back, or core-related issues that may be connected to pelvic floor dysfunction
• Recovery after abdominal, hernia, colorectal, or prostate surgery

A pelvic floor therapist will evaluate how the pelvic floor works in coordination with your breathing, posture, overall strength, and movement patterns. Treatment may include education, exercise, manual therapy, muscle and nervous system relaxation techniques, bladder and bowel retraining, and strategies to improve strength, mobility, and function.

Steps you can take today to help prevent pelvic floor dysfunction:

• Stay physically active and maintain good hip and core mobility.
• Avoid routinely straining during bowel movements.
• Manage constipation through adequate hydration and fiber intake.
• Take breaks from prolonged sitting throughout the day.
• Learn to relax the pelvic floor, not just strengthen it. It is a common misconception that the pelvic floor always needs more strengthening.
• Address persistent low back, hip, or groin pain before it becomes chronic.

Many men live with pelvic floor symptoms for years without realizing treatment is available. Pelvic physical therapy offers a conservative, evidence-based approach that can improve comfort, function, and quality of life without medication or surgery in many cases. It can also be an effective complement to medical and surgical interventions.

If you think you or a loved one might benefit from pelvic floor therapy, contact Mammoth Hospital Physical Therapy today to schedule an initial, non-invasive evaluation with a therapist.