male pelvic health physiotherapy

male pelvic health

Men’s pelvic health issues can affect 1 in 10 men and have a significant impact on their daily life. These issues can be a result of a traumatic event (eg: surgery, injury), or more commonly develop slowly over time due to digestive problems, work and lifestyle pressures, and/or the build up of muscular holding patterns around the lower abdomen and pelvic floor muscles. Jenna at Pelvic Health Physiotherapy East Sheen has undertaken specialist training in male treatment to better support the needs of her clients with these issues.

Common symptoms of pelvic floor muscle dysfunction include urinary leakage, especially when coughing, sneezing or exercising; dribbling after using the toilet throughout the day and/or at night; difficulty controlling the back passage – including leaking faeces, or painful stools; sex erectile or sexual function difficulties, particularly with a low erection; and generalised lower abdominal pain. These symptoms can often be improved or eliminated with a tailored pelvic floor rehabilitation program.

A key element of pelvic rehabilitation for men is the use of breath and movement techniques to improve abdominal and pelvic floor muscle tone and to encourage proper relaxation and firing patterns. These techniques are often very effective when used in combination with pelvic floor exercises to target and retrain these muscles.

male pelvic health physiotherapy

Your first session will involve an interview and examination by a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor treatment. Your therapist will ask for a complete medical history and your current symptoms to gain an understanding of your problem. They will then examine your lumbopelvic region and hips, focusing on movements that require your pelvic floor muscles to contract and relax. Initially this will be an external assessment but may include an internal pelvic floor evaluation if appropriate for your diagnosis and with your consent.

During this process your physical therapist will show you models of the pelvis and explain each step of the internal pelvic floor evaluation. They will ensure your comfort and safety, and you can end the exam at any time if you are uncomfortable.

The internal pelvic floor evaluation involves placing a clear speculum in the rectum and then guiding you to contract and relax your pelvic floor muscles while they observe. This can feel a little awkward but is usually much more comfortable than many men expect.

Your therapist will then discuss the results of your exam and provide you with an initial treatment plan. Generally this will include a series of weekly, one hour sessions, with re-evaluation and goal setting based on your progress. Depending on your diagnosis, your treatment plan may also include education, manual therapy, and/or modalities like heat or electrical stimulation. Often these treatments will include the use of specific pelvic floor muscle exercises like Kegels and breathing/movement techniques to help reduce your symptoms and improve your overall quality of life.