Male Pelvic Health
Contrary to popular belief, the pelvic floor is not exclusive to those with female anatomy. Though the muscles are positioned slightly differently in male anatomy, the pelvic floor still functions in a very similar fashion to female anatomy. The pelvic floor muscles in male anatomy are in charge of the following:
Control of the bowels and bladder (keeping urine and stool in, and allowing urine and stool out when appropriate)
Support of the bowels and bladder
Sexual function (supporting good blood flow to achieve and maintain erections and climax)
Common symptoms that may result from a dysfunction of the pelvic floor muscles include:
Urinary urgency and frequency
Urinary leakage
Urinary leakage post-prostate removal surgery
Difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection
Pain during or after intercourse or climax
Constipation and/or painful bowel movements
Hip, low back, or tailbone pain
When there is a dysfunction of the pelvic floor muscles, a common recommendation is to start doing kegel exercises. However, if the muscles you are trying to strengthen are already too tense, adding kegel exercises can actually hinder improvement. It’s important to understand that these muscles may need retraining to actually relax instead of becoming overactive. This is where pelvic floor therapy comes in! Pelvic floor therapists specialize in determining muscle patterns and will work with you on how to retrain those muscles to alleviate symptoms.
At Root to Rise Physical Therapy and Pelvic Health, our providers take a holistic approach to care. That means we pay attention to any urinary, bowel, or sexual dysfunction without ignoring the rest of your body. There are many other pieces we consider that may be contributing to your symptoms including: posture, flexibility throughout your spine and hips, breathing patterns, previous injuries, and current lifestyle. Our goal is to support you in finding relief!
Interested in working 1:1 with us? We offer private yoga, pelvic floor therapy, and acupuncture and we would love to support you!
Schedule your free 30 minute consultation with us in Saco, Scarborough or virtually today!
At Root to Rise Physical Therapy & Pelvic Health, we believe in a holistic approach to physical therapy, pelvic floor therapy, acupuncture, and therapeutic yoga. We are located in Scarborough, Saco, and Bath, and are here to support you!
~Dr. Jenn & The Root To Rise Team
