Men have a pelvic floor too.

Last week I took a course just for men. It was great to focus on the function and needs specifically for men. Most pelvic health courses I attend have a female teacher, all female attendees and education focused mostly on women, with just a few minutes devoted to the male population. But men have a pelvic floor too! Sometimes the word kegel (the pelvic floor muscles) is discussed only among women and at the gynecologist office. But this muscle group serves males and females alike and can have dysfunction in anyone.

Without going into too much detail I want to share a few of the common diagnoses that I see for male pelvic health.

• Urinary Incontinence: Men sometimes deal with leakage. Whether after surgery, from an enlarged prostate problem, or bladder or pelvic muscle issue, it can happen in about 11% of men.
• Pelvic pain: There are many sources of pain in the pelvis. Whether the cause is the low back, SI joint, hip dysfunction, pelvic floor muscle spasm, poor posture, and scar tissue to name a few, discovering the source is where we can help create the best plan to return you to your activities.
• Prostatectomy: This is the removal of the prostate gland. What occurs most often is urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. Two areas that PT can make a difference.
• Urinary Urgency and Frequency: Having to go to the bathroom all the time can be a nuisance and interfere with what you’d rather be doing during your day!

Since PT is the place to go for muscular and functional problems, when you consider all the muscles, bones, nerves and ligaments in the pelvis, it’s no surprise that we can treat bladder, pelvic, and sexual issues. Though not all PTs have the specific training for this area of the body. So if you are looking for help with any of these conditions, give me a call or if you live farther away, I’d be happy to connect you to another PT who can help you.

Please don’t think you just have to deal with these issues.There are many tools to help you get back to enjoying life without worrying about where the next bathroom is or that you may never be intimate with your partner again. Let’s work together to help you reach your goals!