Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy after Prostate Removal Surgery (Prostatectomy)
Did you know?
1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime
About 90% of men after a prostatectomy will have some level of urinary incontinence
Nearly all men will experience erectile dysfunction after surgery
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy can significantly improve issues of urinary leaking and ED after prostatectomy!
Did you or someone you love have a Prostatectomy (surgery to remove the prostate)?
Or, are you or someone you love going to have a prostatectomy? Most men after surgery will have some amount of urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. For some men it’s minor, and for others it can be debilitating and significantly life impacting. That’s where we are here to help YOU!
Research tells us that men who decide to go to pelvic floor physical therapy can regain continence (bladder control) and confidence a lot more quickly than those who do not go to physical therapy. At Awake Pelvic Health & Wellness, we help you or your loved one have better knowledge, understanding, and coordination of their pelvic floor.
So What Exactly IS the Pelvic Floor and Why Does It Matter?
Your pelvic floor muscles are a group of muscles that sit at the base of your pelvis like a sling or hammock. These muscles are vital for controlling bowel and bladder function, as well as assisting in erectile function. After your prostate is removed, the pelvic floor muscles need to work a lot harder to help you control your bladder so you don’t leak. Pelvic floor physical therapy teaches you how to properly strengthen these muscles and educate you on how to make long-lasting improvements after surgery. Additionally, we teach you strategies and exercises to help improve blood flow to your pelvis, which can help restore erectile function.
What Do We Do in Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
Lot’s of education so YOU are equipped with the tools to heal
Learning how to properly activate and strengthen your pelvic floor
Reducing muscle tightness in the pelvic floor and surrounding muscles
Retraining pelvic floor muscles not only for strength but also for power and speed (very useful when coughing or sneezing)
Strength and conditioning: to help you reduce leaking with exercise and more intense activities. Sometimes a few simple movement changes can dramatically reduce leakage.
When Should I start Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
The sooner the better! If possible, we recommend doing at least one pelvic floor physical therapy visit PRIOR to your surgery. This way we can teach you the most important exercises to start doing ASAP, which can dramatically improve your function after surgery. If you already had surgery we recommend, starting PT 4-6 weeks after surgery. However, it’s NEVER too late to start! If you are even 1-2+ years out of surgery and still having these symptoms, pelvic floor PT can still help!
How Long Do I Come to Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
While each patient is different, we usually work with our prostatectomy patients for 4-6 physical therapy visits. Some men may need fewer sessions, and some may need more, depending on their symptoms and goals.
Ready to Get Started with Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
A member of our team here is here to help you! Contact us to:
Get your questions answered
Schedule a Physical Therapy visit
Discuss your individual symptoms and learn how we can help you
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