1 in 12 men experience chronic pelvic pain.
30% of men who visit the GP are affected by incontinence, yet 60% do not discuss it.
At myPhysioSA pelvic health, our pelvic health physiotherapists, Sarah Walsh and Carolyn Do, specialise in men’s health physiotherapy and have undertaken post-graduate training in this field. We understand the sensitive nature of men’s health conditions and provide a safe and supportive environment where you can feel comfortable discussing your concerns.
Some of the common conditions we can help you manage include:
- Pre & post prostatectomy rehabilitation
- Erectile dysfunction
- Persistent pelvic pain including hip/coccyx pain
- Bladder issues such as incontinence, urgency, frequency and difficulty emptying
- Bowel issues such as incontinence, urgency, difficulty emptying, constipation and pain
Real Time Ultrasound Pelvic Floor Assessment
Our physiotherapists have further training in the use of Real Time Ultrasound to assess pelvic floor muscle function. The use of this technology allows us to provide immediate visual feedback on how the pelvic floor muscles are activating and relaxing, and can be used to enhance learning and performance of the specific exercises recommended to treat your condition.
Compassionate and individualised Pelvic Health Care
We know many people with pelvic health conditions suffer in silence, and the myPhysioSA pelvic health team is dedicated to using our specialised pelvic health training to provide compassionate and individualised care. We pride ourselves on our holistic approach, working collaboratively with other members of your health care team with the aim of improving your pelvic health, reducing symptoms and helping you achieve your long-term goals.
Pre & Post Prostatectomy Rehabilitation – The Role of Physiotherapy in Managing Urinary Incontinence
Physiotherapists provide a key role in pre-op and post-op rehabilitation following prostatectomy. Urinary incontinence is very common after these procedures, usually improving within a few weeks, and resolving within six to twelve months. Research shows that working with a trained physiotherapist to learn how to correctly activate and train your pelvic floor muscles reduces urinary leakage after prostate surgery, and helps men regain bladder control earlier.
A pelvic health physiotherapist works with people ideally prior to the prostatectomy surgery, but can also begin afterwards, to teach the correct activation and control of the pelvic floor muscles. This is usually taught through a combination of:
- Education; how to identify and isolate the pelvic floor muscles, how the urinary continence mechanism works and is affected by the surgery, screening for any other bladder/bowel concerns that may impact recovery and addressing these.
- Biofeedback using a number of methods including transperineal ultrasound to give real-time feedback on pelvic floor activation and relaxation.
- Prescription of an individualised pelvic floor muscle training program and guidance on how to progress this through the recovery period.
- Bladder diaries are commonly completed pre and post operatively to assess bladder function and the degree of incontinence post operatively, this gives important feedback on progress in the weeks after the surgery.
To hear more about pelvic health physiotherapy pre and post prostatectomy, listen to this video featuring one of our experienced pelvic health physiotherapists Sarah Walsh.
