Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy for Men’s Health

By: Dr. Hannah Lattanzio, PT, DPT

Introduction 

This month's blog post is dedicated to raising awareness about men’s health as we remember to prioritize care and wellness for all. Frustratingly, the American Physical Therapy Association and other medical organizations refer to pelvic dysfunction as predominantly a “women’s health issue.”  Further, many pelvic floor physical therapists are not trained in evaluating and treating men with pelvic floor dysfunction. 

Here at The Pelvic Institute our staff is trained to evaluate and treat male patients – everyone has a pelvis! 

Due to the lack of awareness around men’s health and pelvic floor physical therapy, men are often unsure of what is normal and what is not regarding bladder, bowel, and sexual health. This can lead to a delay in diagnosis and treatment. 

Common Symptoms: 

Here is a list of common symptoms our male patients seek treatment for:

• Penile/scrotal/anal pain 

• Constipation 

• Decreased force of urinary stream

• Prostate-related conditions (i.e. BPH, preparing for prostatectomy, history of prostate cancer, etc.)

• Erectile dysfunction and/or post-ejaculatory pain 

• Tailbone or sacroiliac pain 

• Urinary frequency, urgency, hesitancy

• Hip/groin/low back pain

Common Diagnoses: 

Many patients receive diagnoses from their physicians and are unsure where to turn to next for symptom relief. Some common diagnoses men seek pelvic floor physical therapy for include but are not limited to:

• Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis 

• Benign prostatic hyperplasia 

• Pudendal neuralgia 

• Persistent gential arousal disorder (PGAD)

• Irritable bowel syndrome

• Painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis 

• Chronic pelvic pain syndrome 

How a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist Can Help

Your pelvic floor therapist will perform an extensive interview of your medical history. From there your therapist will perform an internal and external musculoskeletal assessment and evaluate other body systems that may be contributing to your symptoms and develop an individualized treatment plan. You are always more than welcome to have another individual in the room with you during an internal pelvic floor assessment. 

Your first visit may include: 

• Assessment of skin integrity and connective tissue of the abdomen, pelvic girdle muscles, back and lower extremities

• Postural assessment 

• Evaluation of muscle strength and range of motion

• Pelvic floor assessment (gently inserting a lubricated gloved finger into the anus) to assess muscle tone, strength, coordination, and tenderness

Following the assessment, your therapist will prescribe a tailored intervention plan that may include exercise, behavior modification, and education. The treatment you will receive at The Pelvic Institute will be one-on-one physical therapy for 60 minute sessions. 

While pelvic floor physical therapy may seem intimidating, the therapists here at The Pelvic Institute emphasize providing a safe environment for anyone who walks through the door regardless of gender. 

If you have any questions or wonder if we would be a good fit for you, don’t hesitate to contact us!