Every man, just like every woman, has a pelvic floor! The pelvic floor is made of intricate muscles and tissues that work hard everyday to support men and women. These layers of muscles and tissues act like a basket supporting men and women’s bladder, bowel and abdomen function.
The pelvic floor muscles help you keep control of things so you can survive taking Toronto transit without having to make an emergency stop! They play an integral part in men’s sexual function as well. And, just like women, men can also suffer from pelvic floor pain. While the causes may not be the same, men living with pelvic floor pain or weakness deserve treatment and proper care.What can lead to men’s pelvic floor issues?
In men, there are many factors that can result in weak or overly tight pelvic floor muscles including:
- Constipation (straining to go number two)
- Urinary incontinence (leaking or constant urge to pee!)
- Heavy lifting (including lifting weights at the gym or on the job)
- Aging
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Prostate Surgery
- Bladder or bowels surgeries
How do I know if I need to seek pelvic floor treatment?
If you have experienced one of the listed above, your pelvic floor might be in trouble. Clear signs and symptoms of a dysfunctional pelvic floor include:
- Incontinence (both number one and two!)
- Constipation
- Difficulty getting or maintaining an erection
- Pain during sex (ie. pain after orgasm)
- Pain in the tailbone, lower back, groin or abdominals
When trying to heal your pelvic floor pain, or to correct your pelvic floor weakness or tension, it is best to see a pelvic floor physiotherapist.
Here is a quick way to check if your pelvic floor is working properly:
Can you use your muscles to lift your scrotum? Can you stop your stream of urine mid-pee? If no to the first and yes to the second, it may be time to see a pelvic floor physiotherapist!
What can a pelvic physiotherapist do for me?
When faced with some of the symptoms mentioned above, often times we believe the prostate is to blame. If it is truly the reason, you can still benefit from pelvic physiotherapy before and after prostate surgery to fully recover your pelvic floor function. When your prostate isn’t the contributor, the next suspect may be your pelvic floor.
Pelvic physiotherapy can help you identify the root cause of your pelvic floor problem so that you live your life freely and get back to the lifestyle you love. Whether your goal is to get back to your regular routine pain-free, or to overcome your incontinence issues, or regain your sex life, pelvic physiotherapy can get you there!
At InvigoPhysio, the pelvic floor treatment program is customized to your unique needs and lifestyle. It can include a combination of neurofunctional acupuncture, relaxation techniques, tissue release, yoga and Pilates therapy. No matter where you are on your health journey, we are here to help!
Still have questions about your pelvic floor health?
Please reach out, we’d love to hear from you!
