Sometimes the answer to this question is biased or convoluted. Pelvic PT is often thought of as a woman/mom’s therapy. However, this is far from the case. Many men can also benefit from going through pelvic floor therapy. Join me as we take a closer look at just who exactly needs pelvic PT.
What is Pelvic PT?
Pelvic PT, or pelvic floor physical therapy, is a specialized subset of physical therapy that addresses pelvic pain and dysfunction. To become specialized in this field of physical therapy, a physical therapist must undergo extra training to be able to perform internal exams and understand how the pelvic floor and pelvic organs play a role in movement and rehab.
A pelvic floor physical therapist can work issues such as:
Posture and pressure management
Breathwork and reconnecting the inner piston system
Individualized exercise plans
Building efficient movements
Back pain
Leaking of pee, poo, or gas
Pelvic Pain
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Constipation
Abdominal Separation or Diastasis Rectus Abdominus
Pain with sex
What Exactly Is Your Pelvic Floor?
The pelvic floor is a system of muscles and fascia that form a hammock to support pelvic organs, including the bladder, uterus, and rectum. The pelvic floor is part of our “core” system and contracts and relaxes as we move and perform daily tasks. The pelvic floor also works in synergy with the abdominal muscles and diaphragm to maintain pressure within your abdomen.
The Pelvic Floor is Dynamic
Daily functional movements aren’t exclusively controlled by one muscle. The muscles in our bodies work together to allow us to perform all of our tasks and movments. This is why it is so important for a pelvic floor therapist to assess the movement of the whole body.
Everything is connected!
A well functioning, dynamic pelvic floor should be able to:
Respond to pressure changes in the abdomen and thorax
Maintain continence
Stabilize the trunk
Support us as we move
When the pelvic floor loses its dynamic abilities, it becomes dysfunctional.
Several factors can cause dysfunction of the pelvic floor. It can be things like:
Diet
Daily activities
Dysfunctional movement patterns
Pregnancy
Childbirth
Nerve damage
When assessing a client’s movement patterns concerning a pelvic floor dysfunction, I often consider the following:
Does the system have balance with breathing?
Are the abdominal muscles tight, scarred, and not allowing proper expansion with inhalation?
Are the abdominals overactive and overpowering the balance of the pelvic floor?
Are the pelvic floor muscles able to co-contract synergistically together?
Although muscles work in groups to form movement patterns, each muscle should be able to work independently when isolated to perform strengthening. The muscles of the pelvic floor are no exception. Sometimes, we need the ability to isolate the contraction and relaxation of each pelvic floor muscle to improve its function and allow it to work in conjunction with the other systems of the body. This is called specificity of training. The muscles of the pelvic floor need to be trained differently to improve urine retention during sneezing, then they would for posture stability.
Who Can Benefit From Pelvic PT?
As I touched briefly on at the beginning, there is a misconception that only women or moms need pelvic PT. But the reality is while yes, women do tend to have more dysfunction in the pelvic floor from pregnancy and birth, women who haven’t ever been pregnant and men can also benefit from pelvic floor therapy.
Why Men May Need Pelvic Floor Therapy
Men have pelvic floor muscles too. And they can become dysfunctional as well from things listed above like stress or strenuous activities. Some problems that pelvic PT can help men with are:
Erectile Dysfunction
Urinary problems
Ejaculation pain
Constipation
Why Women May Need Pelvic Floor Therapy
Trauma may happen to the muscles, ligaments, and layers of the vagina during birth and pregnancy. The pelvic floor isn’t the only area that pregnancy can impact. The abdominal muscles can also be affected by diastasis recti. And if we remember from above, the abdominal muscles and pelvic floor work together to balance the internal pressures of the body. When this pressure system is disrupted, it can impact the function of the pelvic floor muscles as well.
But a woman doesn’t have to have gone through childbirth and pregnancy to need pelvic floor therapy. Women can still suffer problems like:
Urinary incontinence/urgency/frequency
Constipation
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Pain with sex
Again, lifestyle can have a huge impact on pelvic floor function.
When To Schedule Your Appointment
If you’re a woman who’s currently pregnant, prevention is key. Seek out the knowledge of a pelvic PT to prevent pain, and learn what exercises and movements can help keep the pelvic floor and body functioning during pregnancy and help promote a healthy birth.
If you’re already experiencing pain and symptoms that are disrupting your normal life and preventing you from enjoying activities you used to love to do, it’s probably time to seek out the help of a professional therapist. You don’t have to live with pain, dysfunction, or leaking, whether you’re a man or a woman. Help is a pelvic PT away!
How To Find A Therapist?
Ask friends, family, and your doctors for referrals.
Do your research and find someone who is knowledgeable in treating pelvic floor dysfunction.
Interview your potential provider before you start treatment to know if you feel comfortable with them. They will be working very closely with you in private/intimate areas, so making sure you can relax with them is vital.