It’s that time of year again. The air is getting cooler, the leaves are changing color, and men are ditching their razors to shine light on men’s health issues. Movember is an annual event during the month of November where men grow out their facial hair to bring awareness to men’s mental health and suicide prevention, testicular cancer, and prostate cancer.
Globally, around 10.8 million men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. A radical prostatectomy (the surgical removal of the prostate gland) is typically the first line of treatment and can be a life-saving procedure. However, it can come with some side effects.
If you are facing the road to recovery after cancer treatment, pelvic floor physical therapy (PFPT) can play a role in quicker healing and improving your quality of life.
Here’s how:
1. Greater Urinary Control
Urinary dysfunction can include urinary incontinence, urinary urgency and frequency, and pain with urination. While symptoms can initially arise with an enlarged prostate, damage to nerves and muscles can also impact urinary control post-operatively.
Working with a pelvic floor physical therapist can help you correctly perform a pelvic floor contraction (known as a kegel) and strengthen the muscles responsible for continence. A pelvic floor physical therapist can also teach you about healthy bladder habits and bladder training, fluid management, and urge suppression techniques for confidence to return to the activities you love.
2. Improved Sexual Function
Although nerve-sparing techniques and precise radiation are used in cancer treatment, disruption to the pelvic region may result in erectile dysfunction. A pelvic floor physical therapist can guide you through strengthening, coordination, and relaxation exercises to promote blood flow and enhance erectile function.
3. Reduced Pelvic and Post-Surgical Pain
Some men experience pelvic pain following prostate removal due to surgical trauma, swelling, and muscle tension. A pelvic floor therapist can provide manual techniques such as soft tissue mobilization, myofascial release, and stretching to improve mobility, release muscle guarding, and improve comfort.
So what would a PFPT evaluation look like?
Now that we’ve learned how pelvic floor PT can help improve your health, you may be interested in scheduling an appointment and are wondering what the first session would look like. An initial evaluation begins with a conversation about the reason for your visit, your past medical history, and outlining your goals for therapy.
An orthopedic exam may be done to assess if any back or hip impairments are possibly contributing to your symptoms. The gold standard for assessing the pelvic floor muscles is through an internal examination, however nothing is done without your consent, and examinations can always be modified for your comfort. Your therapist will then come up with a personalized treatment plan to help you achieve your goals.
Healing after a prostatectomy can be stressful and daunting, but you don’t have to face it alone. In honor of Movember, take charge of your health this month and every month. Pelvic floor therapy is here to help.
Schedule with Isabella by requesting an appointment here.
Meet the Expert
Isabella Flores, PT, DPT
Wall Physical Therapist
Isabella Flores is a proud alumnus of Rutgers University where she earned both her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She has experience treating many common orthopedic conditions. She has a special interest in treating pelvic floor dysfunction for both men and women including urinary and fecal incontinence, pelvic and testicular pain, dyspareunia, and more. Learn more about Isabelle here.
References
Managing prostate cancer treatment side effects. Prostate Cancer Foundation. (2021, March 24). https://www.pcf.org/about-prostate-cancer/prostate-cancer-side-effects/managing-prostate-cancer-treatment-side-effects/
Men Are Dying Too Young. we can’t afford to stay silent. Movember. (n.d.). https://us.movember.com/about/foundation
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