Tag: pelvic floor muscles

Physiotherapy and Prostate Surgery

Prostate cancer is now the most diagnosed cancer in Australian men, and the second most common cancer to cause death in men, with over 20,000 men being diagnosed with the disease each year. Physiotherapists are encouraging people to speak more openly about men’s health and prostate cancer.  Local physiotherapist, Craig Steele wants to encourage men diagnosed with prostate cancer and who are to undergo surgery to seek pre and post surgery consultation with an appropriately trained physiotherapist.  Craig wants to raise awareness about the side effects of prostate cancer surgery, specifically incontinence and erectile dysfunction, as well as how a physiotherapist trained in pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation can help.  Up to 95% of men who have radical prostatectomy will experience incontinence, however most men will recover with the help of pelvic floor physiotherapy.

 

Whilst the awareness of treatment available for female incontinence is fairly well known, most men either don’t speak of their condition, or just assume that they need to put up with it.   Many men with prostate cancer believe that time will heal them post surgery and their continence will spontaneously return, however this is not always the case. With the help of a pelvic floor trained physiotherapist, men can regain their continence sooner.

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According to the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA), incontinence and erectile dysfunction are significant side effects arising from surgery to treat prostate cancer. Most men will be incontinent and have erectile dysfunction straight after the surgery and for around 5% of men, incontinence will persist a year later.

 

The APA encourages men to be proactive about “pre-habilitation” in preparation for prostate cancer surgery, using pelvic floor muscle exercises to help bladder control. Physiotherapy research has shown how pelvic floor exercises should be taught in order for men to benefit most from the program. These tailored exercises shorten the time and severity of men’s incontinence thus improving their quality of life.

 

If you or a loved one are about to undergo prostate surgery, or have already had an operation, physiotherapist Craig Steele from Hinteractive Physio can help you regain your pelvic floor muscle strength.  Craig has recently undergone specific training in this area with renowned physiotherapy leaders in the field.  He can be contacted on 5442 5556 to make an appointment.  As there is a great deal of education involved in this consultation, you may need to ask for an extended appointment slot.  Craig can also be contacted via email: hinteractivephysio@gmail.com

Ladies – How’s your “core and pelvic floor?”

By Rebecca Steele

With Mother’s Day fast approaching, it is timely for all women to have a think about the health of their “core and floor”. The “core” muscles, refers to the deep muscles of the abdomen and lower back which have a stabilising role in the body and help to maintain a good posture. In addition to this important function, in women who are pregnant or have had a baby, they are vital for minimising the strain placed on the lower back while pregnant, and help to re-gain abdominal tone post pregnancy. A lot of women perform sit-ups diligently, but still have the tell-tale “pot belly” in the lower abdomen due to the lack of tone and endurance in the core muscles. The deep abdominal “core” muscles do not just return to normal function after they have been stretched, cut (caesarean section) or inhibited by moderate to severe back pain. They need specific exercises which can be taught to you by a physiotherapist or other suitably qualified fitness professional. The up-side to getting your core muscles working again is that the overall tone of your abdomen will improve, along with your posture.

The other essential health area for women to be aware of is their pelvic floor. Most women have heard of pelvic floor exercises but aren’t exactly sure of what they need to do and if they are doing it correctly. There are also some myths surrounding whether or not they should be performed while pregnant. The pelvic floor muscles are a sling of muscles which run from the tail bone at the back, through to the pubic bone at the front of the pelvis. The openings for the bladder, womb and bowel, all pass through the pelvic floor muscles, which are essential for the optimal functioning and support of the pelvic organs. Weak pelvic floor muscles can develop for numerous reasons, including pregnancy, childbirth, hormone changes, straining to pass bowel motions and chronic coughing. It is essential for all women, regardless of their age, to understand how to correctly perform a pelvic floor contraction, and ensure that they exercise the muscles regularly, especially when pregnant and following the birth. Like any muscle, if you don’t use it, you lose it. This is even more important as we age, as the hormone effects contribute to muscle weakness. Weak pelvic floor muscles can contribute to prolapses, incontinence and urgency symptoms in the bladder and bowel.

The “core” and “floor” (pelvic floor muscles) work together to provide a support network to the trunk from around and below. Squeezing up your pelvic floor while you are training your core muscles can assist the core muscles to work. However, if you suffer from pelvic floor weakness or incontinence, it is important to ensure you are performing an adequate pelvic floor contraction before doing core exercises, otherwise, more strain can be placed on the already weak pelvic floor. The good news is that pelvic floor weakness and incontinence can often be managed by a physiotherapist who has had extra training in assessing and treating conditions of the pelvic floor. Core muscle exercises can be provided by a physiotherapist, or suitably qualified health/fitness professional.

If you have any concerns about your “core and floor” please contact an appropriate health professional. Rebecca Steele co-owns Hinteractive Physio in Cooroy and can be contacted on 5442 5556.