Tips & Techniques

Pelvic Health PT is for Males Too!

Maureen Gies Strasser 
 • 
June 12, 2024
Pelvic Health PT is for Males Too!

Two very common problems pelvic health therapists can help males with are pelvic pain and urinary incontinence.

Chronic prostatitis, also known as Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS), is a common diagnosis men will get when they seek medical treatment for pelvic pain and related symptoms.  CPPS is one type of prostatitis that can often be helped with pelvic health physical therapy.  

Common symptoms of pelvic pain include:

  • Discomfort, pressure or pain in the lower abdomen or groin.
  • Painful intercourse or ejaculation
  • Painful urination
  • Itching or burning around genitals, buttocks or inner thighs
  • Difficulty emptying bowels or constipation
  • Feeling like you are sitting on a golf ball

Urinary incontinence, or leaking of urine, is another common problem for men often after prostate surgery, often needing to use pads throughout the day which often affects quality of life.

After a thorough evaluation, physical therapists can educate on stretches and exercises to relax the muscles of the pelvic girdle as well as lifestyle behaviors that may be contributing to muscle tension.  Manual techniques to improve muscle mobility around the pelvis as well as focused education on breathing will be focused on which helps symptoms and muscle relaxation. 
An inter rectal examination can also be performed to assess the tension in the pelvic floor muscles which are often involved in this condition.

If you have any of the above symptoms or If you have been prescribed medication that has not helped improve your symptoms above, please discuss with your medical provider about pelvic health physical therapy.  We are here to help!

At Smith Physical Therapy + we offer complimentary discovery sessions where you can discuss your symptoms with our pelvic health therapist to see if therapy is right for you.

Meet the Author
Maureen graduated from Midwestern University in 2000 with a master’s degree in physical therapy and received her doctorate in physical therapy from University of Indianapolis in 2013. She has worked in a variety of clinical settings, but has spent most of her career in outpatient orthopedics. Maureen’s true passion is treating pelvic health conditions for both males and females where she can use her orthopedic knowledge to treat female patients through the lifespan from teenagers to menopause. She also helps males before and after prostate surgery as well as males of all ages with pelvic pain. She also has a strong interest in helping those with bowel dysfunction including constipation. Her goal is to maximize quality of life for her patients, breaking through the stigma and making the conversation on pelvic health comfortable and empowering for all genders to maximize quality of life.
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