This post was written by Rachel Proctor, PT, DPT, Board-Certified Women's Health Clinical Specialist, Parkview Health.
We often hear about pelvic floor muscles as they pertain to women’s health, especially following pregnancy and childbirth. But men also have pelvic floor muscles. This group of muscles extend from the pubic bone to the tail bone, and help support organs such as the bladder, prostate and rectum. Just like female patients, when men experience dysfunction in this area, it can lead to bladder or bowel problems and/or pain. In this post, I’ll go through some of the signs guys shouldn’t ignore and how they can keep their pelvic floor healthy and strong.
Symptoms
Signs of pelvic floor dysfunction in men can include:
- Urinary urgency or frequency
- Urinary incontinence or dribbling
- Urinary retention
- Difficulty starting or stopping urine flow
- Constipation or painful bowel movements
- Fecal incontinence
- Pelvic pain including testicular, penile, tail bone, groin and hip pain
- Pain with sitting
Causes
Pelvic floor dysfunction in men can be caused by many things, including:
- Injuries particularly to the hip, low back or pelvis
- Heavy lifting
- Cancer treatment for prostate and colorectal cancers
- Long duration sitting
- Stress
The cause can also be unknown.
A happy pelvic floor
Ideally, the pelvic floor muscles should be strong but also flexible. Muscles that are too weak could lead to urinary incontinence or dribbling. Muscles that are too tense can lead to pelvic pain or constipation.
Men can achieve this balance of strength and flexibility by regularly performing certain exercises.
Squeeze: One approach to contract the pelvic floor is to imagine you are squeezing the muscles as you would to stop the flow of urine. Then allow the muscles to relax fully. You should be able to do this without holding your breath or squeezing your buttocks.
Lift: Another way to find these muscles is to imagine you are trying to lift your testicles up and then allow the muscles to relax or drop.
Depending on symptoms, some men may need to practice these contractions several times per day.
Others should focus on relaxation and lengthening these muscles, which may include stretching and breathing exercises. It’s important to speak with a pelvic floor therapist to develop the right regimen for your concerns.
Help is available
If you are having symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction, do not hesitate to ask for help. A pelvic floor physical therapist can identify which exercises are right for you.
Pelvic Physical Therapy is available at the following locations:
Parkview Huntington Hospital Rehab and Wellness
2001 Stults Rd, Huntington, IN 46750
260-355-3240
Parkview Therapy Services
433 W High St, Bryan, OH 43506
419-630-2117
Parkview Therapy Services
11143 Parkview Plaza Dr., Suite 100, Fort Wayne, IN 46845
260-266-4080
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