Physiotherapy is your go-to if you’re battling with various painful conditions that impact your overall wellness. Skilled physiotherapists can restore your body to a healthy state, improving pain dysfunction and movement. Both women’s and men’s health concerns can be addressed to restore your overall sense of well-being.
With physio Noosa men can get the help they need to alleviate certain health conditions that cause pain or immobility. Working with a team of experienced physiotherapists who listen to your concerns and assess your condition before tailoring a treatment plan for you is important. Keep reading to learn how to use physiotherapy to support your healing and recovery journey.
4 Ways Physiotherapy Supports Men’s Health for Overall Wellness
1. Better Bladder Control After Prostate Cancer and Surgery
A common side effect of prostate gland removal is incontinence (bladder leakage). If you’ve recently had a radical prostatectomy for the treatment of prostate cancer and are struggling with urinary incontinence, your urologist may refer you to a physiotherapist.
Your physiotherapist will assess your situation and create a treatment plan that may involve several sessions. They’ll start pelvic floor muscle training which helps improve bladder control, coordination, strength, and conditioning of this muscular organ. Through a structured and progressive training plan, you’ll have better control of your incontinence, post-operatively.
2. Penile Rehabilitation After Prostate Cancer and Surgery
Another side effect of prostatectomy is penile dysfunction because of damage to the nerves controlling the penis. This can take anything between one to three years to heal and restore penile function. However, penile rehabilitation can help you manage this situation post-operatively with pelvic floor exercises.
Based on your specific situation, your physiotherapist may consider other strategies by optimising penile length and erectile function. Non-surgical treatments such as vacuum erectile devices (VEDs) that mimic the natural erection process, are other methods used by physiotherapists to help you overcome erectile dysfunction.
3. Improved Management of Bladder Frequency and Urgency
Bladder urgency is an uncomfortable condition that makes you feel as if you’re going to leak if you don’t get to the toilet in time. Equally challenging is feeling the need to go to the toilet more than six times a day because you feel you need to empty your bladder frequently. Or, maybe you’re left feeling that your bladder never fully empties itself when you do use the toilet.
These scenarios can be distressing, and a pelvic health physiotherapist can help you address this by determining the cause which could be any of the following:
- Prostate-related symptoms
- Inappropriate fluid intake
- Overactive pelvic floor muscles
- Poor bowel and bladder habits
Most times, all it takes is a simple method to solve and alleviate the problem, so that you can live a full life not worrying about bladder leakage!
4. Reduced Pelvic Pain
Pelvic pain in men can occur in various parts of the body including,
- Lower abdomen
- Penis
- Testicles
- Perineum
- Back passage
Pelvic pain can be experienced during ejaculation, when seated, or during times of stress and anxiety in any of the abovementioned parts of the body. The pain can start in a small area and get worse over time, and you may even be misdiagnosed which brings temporary, but not long-term, relief.
A physiotherapist who specialises in men’s health will use a holistic approach that includes pelvic floor muscle training as well as mental processes to help you manage the pain. This mind-body approach allows you to understand your pain while improving your confidence in managing it better.
What to Expect When You Book a Physiotherapist for Men’s Health Concerns
During your initial call to a physiotherapy clinic, a consultant will ask you a few questions before booking an appointment with the right practitioner for your men’s health concerns. Your first consultation should take place in a private room. Your physiotherapist will ask you several questions related to your health concerns.
Based on your answers, the physiotherapist will make a diagnosis and draw up a treatment plan. The physiotherapist may ask for consent to perform a physical examination which could include an ultrasound assessment. The findings of your pelvic floor assessments will be explained to you and a way forward will be discussed with you which includes education to understand your condition.
Most effective treatment plans are tailor-made and can include anything between five to six sessions to ensure full recovery. This could take three to six months, and self-management practices will be part of the treatment programme.
Final Thoughts
Managing men’s health concerns can seem daunting but if you work with the best professionals, you can rest assured of good results. Pelvic health physiotherapists who specialise in men’s health conditions can help you restore your body wellness using holistic strategies that support your healing and recovery.
One final tip! When booking with a physiotherapy clinic, make sure they offer a range of professional services that will enhance your quality of life. Look for practitioners who can deliver top-class personalised treatment that’s easy to understand, while giving you confidence in improving your overall sense of well-being.
