MENS PELVIC HEALTH

Pelvic Health Services

In recent years, more and more people are seeking education, help and guidance when it comes to problems arising in bowel, bladder and sexual function. Men are no exception. However, male pelvic health is still behind in terms of research, training, and trained clinicians in the field. One of the many assumptions is that when discussing pelvic health, it is only concerning the female anatomy, and this couldn’t be further from the truth. Men have pelvic floor muscles too, and problems can arise in this area that play a crucial role in one’s overall health and well-being.

Pelvic floor muscles are a group of muscles located at the base of the pelvic bowl. These muscles can contribute to problems in the bladder, bowl, prostate, and sexual function. These muscles play a crucial role in the five S’es”

• Sphincteric Control: These muscles work with your sphincters to close down bowl and bladder to help keep one continent, or opposite, help relax to evacuate/expel.
• Support: Due to the location of these muscles, they support everything above, including organs, tissue, and work with your abdomen and diaphragm to help regulate your body’s intra-abdominal pressure system.
• Stability: These muscles work together with the rest of the musculoskeletal system to optimize movement and function. They provide postural support and adapt to changes both internally and externally.
• Sexual Appreciation: These muscles, in conjunction with the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, ligaments and blood vessels, play a role in erection, ability to keep an erection, and ejaculate.
• Sump Pump: You have to have good blood flow in this region in order to ejaculate. The pelvic floor can act as the pump, squeezing and releasing to help fluid move.

Pelvic floor physical therapists are specialty trained clinicians that work with the pelvic floor muscles to influence many of these areas. Understanding common pelvic floor issues that can occur in men and their causes, can help raise awareness and encourage open conversations about men’s pelvic health. At Therapy Services, our specialty trained pelvic floor physical therapist will work with you, taking a detailed history, perform movement testing, establish a plan of care, and discuss your treatment options. Above all, we understand this is a sensitive area and topic, and our therapist will work with you to make sure you feel comfortable and informed about your condition and treatment.

Common Conditions Treated (but not limited to):

• Testicular pain
• Groin pain
• Penile pain
• Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome/ Chronic Prostatitis
• Urinary Incontinence
• Pain with sex
• Post-prostatectomy Incontinence
• Erectile Dysfunction
• Constipation
• Fecal Incontinence
• Pudendal Neuralgia
• Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
• Bladder Pain
• Tailbone Pain
• Abdominal Pain

Possible Treatment Options:

• Pelvic floor muscle neuromuscular re-education, coordination, strength, and endurance training
• Manual therapy (internal/external myofascial release techniques, trigger point release, scar mobilization)
• Lumbopelvic stabilization exercises, core strengthening and flexibility training
• Patient education
• Relaxation techniques
• Biofeedback (internal and/or external)
• Modalities (electrical stimulation, heat/ice, ultrasound, combo)
• Home exercise program