Pelvic Floor Therapy for Those with a Penis

Everyone with a pelvis has pelvic floor muscles - that includes those with a penis!! What are the pelvic floor muscles you ask? Let’s break down the anatomy. The pelvic floor muscles (PFM) are a group of muscles located at the bottom of the pelvis. They are shaped similar to a hammock that spans from the pubic bone in front, to the tailbone in the back, and to the sit bones on each side. They have 5 jobs to help our bodies function properly.

When these pelvic floor muscles do not function properly, then you may experience pelvic floor dysfunction. This is a broad term that encompasses any issues that may arise with one’s bladder health, bowel health, sexual health, abdominal or pelvic pain, and/or a combination of these things.

COMMON CONDITIONS THAT WE TREAT AT GENESIS PT & WELLNESS*

• Urinary urgency/frequency
• Urinary incontinence
• Bowel urgency/frequency
• Bowel incontinence
• Pain with urination/defecation 
• Constipation
• Erectile dysfunction
• Pain with ejaculation
• Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CP/CPPS)
• Nerve pain such as Pudendal Neuralgia
• Low back/hip/sacroiliac joint (SIJ)/tailbone pain
• Testicular/penile/groin pain
• Diastasis Recti Abdominis
• Post-prostatectomy rehab 

*not an exhaustive list

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR FIRST PELVIC FLOOR THERAPY APPOINTMENT AT GENESIS PT & WELLNESS

First, your pelvic floor therapist will begin by getting to know you! You live in your body 24/7 so you know your body best, even if it feels difficult to describe what your body is experiencing. Your pelvic floor therapist will listen to your story and your symptoms, and discuss your past medical history, your current lifestyle, and your goals. Lots of education about the inner workings of the pelvic floor will be included because we want you to feel empowered about your body. Secondly, we will begin the physical exam and movement screen. We believe that a comprehensive, holistic approach should be taken when assessing for pelvic floor dysfunction. That means that your pelvic floor therapist will assess your body head-to-toe. It’s fascinating how much of our body is intricately linked! It’s not uncommon to find that something outside the pelvis is contributing to pelvic floor dysfunction.

An external orthopedic examination may be performed to look at how your spine moves, your hip mobility and strength, your rib cage mobility and breathing patterns, your abdominal wall and core strength, and how your body squats, lunges, hinges. An external pelvic floor examination may be performed to assess any muscle/fascial restrictions or scar tissue present in the scrotum, the testicles, and/or the penis. An internal digital rectal pelvic floor exam may also be performed in order to assess the strength and coordination of the pelvic floor muscles. It’s important to remember that the pelvic floor exams are always optional, never a requirement. Your pelvic floor therapist will only perform these exams with your informed consent. The internal pelvic floor exam is different from a prostate exam.

Thirdly, your pelvic floor therapist will take all the information gathered from the physical exam combined with your subjective reports to determine the source of the pelvic floor dysfunction. From there, we will collaborate with you on the plan of care to help get you to goals. Treatments at Genesis PT & Wellness include a combination of hands-on manual therapies such as dry needling, cupping, soft tissue mobilization (to name a few) AND therapeutic exercises to get your body moving better. In summary, we want you to leave your first appointment feeling educated about your body, and feel comfortable and confident about our plan moving forward. 

Image rights: Pelvic Guru and Pelvic Global Academy