Pelvic-focused physical therapy tends to be more common among women, but given that November is Men’s Health Awareness Month and the fact that pelvic conditions are certainly not isolated to women, we wanted to use today’s blog to spotlight some common conditions that can be treated and improved with the help of physical therapy. Below, we take a closer look at three conditions that affect men that can be improved by working with a skilled physical therapist.
Physical Therapy For Men’s Pelvic Health
Pelvis and hip physical therapy tends to be more common in the wake of childbirth or after a hip replacement procedure, but there are a number of other health conditions that respond well to physical therapy. Here’s a look at three health conditions that affect millions of men each year, and some reasons why they should turn to a physical therapist if they are dealing with any of these issues.
Hip And Pelvic Pain
Pelvic pain is common among older men and women, but due to the physical differences between the sexes in this region, men may experience different underlying causes or types of pain. Discomfort in the groin, genitals or the rectum may all be tied back to pelvic floor dysfunction. Targeted exercises to improve the health and strength of nearby muscles, ligaments and joints can help support your pelvis and the pelvic organs causing discomfort.
Urinary Dysfunction
Urinary dysfunction is more common than most people realize because it’s not something that people are always comfortable talking about. It also can present in a number of different forms, including:
- Urinary incontinence
- Accidental leakage
- Discomfort while urinating
- Inability to completely empty the bladder
- Increased frequency during the day or at night
There could be a number of different factors leading to these symptoms, but oftentimes the issues stem from pelvic muscles that are too tight or weak, or due to coordination issues between muscle groups in your trunk, core and extremities. A physical therapist will work to identify these issues to strengthen key structures, improve your posture and body mechanics, and help you modify your behavioral or dietary habits that could also be affecting your urinary function.
Post Prostate Cancer Care
Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer in men, and the condition and treatment leads to some form of urinary incontinence in the vast majority of patients. Physical therapy can be highly effective at treating some of the issues you may run into following your prostate cancer treatment. Conducting some physical therapy before your operation can also help you come out of surgery healthier, so don’t feel like you need to wait until after surgery to connect with a PT.
Speaking of not waiting, research shows that the average man waits 4.2 years to seek assistance for pelvic floor discomfort, and by then it may be harder to treat issues compared to if they had sought care right away. Moreover, 70-80 percent of men see improvement in treating lingering discomfort with as little as four sessions of physical therapy, so let us help find a solution that works for you. For more information, or to talk to a physical therapist about the pelvic floor issues you’re dealing with, reach out to the team at OrthoRehab Specialists today at (612) 339-2041.
PT of Costa Rican National Soccer Team for 2007 World Cup in Victoria, CAN. Clinical Instructor for University of Minnesota Doctor of Physical Therapy Affiliations
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