Urinary incontinence, or leakage is to be expected after prostate surgery as the muscles (sphincters) responsible for bladder control are removed with the prostate. It may be mild, needing pads to manage it for only a few weeks, or more severe and requiring protective pads for up to a year. For a few men, incontinence remains a long-term problem.
The pelvic floor muscles control the bladder and flow of urine. Exercising them effectively can help men regain bladder control earlier. Ideally, the exercises are started before surgery, but they can also help bladder control if started after surgery.
How Physiotherapy Can Help Pre/Post Prostatectomy
Physical therapy is commonly used to help rehabilitate injured muscles and joints prior to surgery, following surgery and as an alternative to surgery.
Pelvic floor physical therapy is a niche and growing sub-specialty of physiotherapy that can be of benefit to men with urinary control and other pelvic issues. They serve a vital role in the rehabilitative process. Patients are taught to coordinate the use of their pelvic floor muscles with functional activities including exercise, sitting, standing, home and daily activities, sexual intercourse, etc.
Seeking a pelvic floor physiotherapy assessment before a prostatectomy surgery has a number of benefits for recovery. The pelvic floor muscles are hard to identify inside the body, so expert help will ensure best possible technique and training. It can boost confidence knowing how to do these exercises correctly. It can also be a difficult time waiting for the surgery and being proactive with pelvic floor muscle exercises can help men cope.
Numerous clinical studies have shown the benefit of pelvic floor muscle training to facilitate an early return of urinary continence following radical prostatectomy. In addition to hastening recovery of urinary control, pelvic training has also been shown to improve the degree of incontinence and the severity of other lower urinary tract symptoms.
Increasing your general fitness before radical prostatectomy can ensure a quicker recovery. Pre-operative physiotherapy can encourage the body to be in the best shape for having surgery.
As with any surgery, being physically fit and healthy can be a big factor in post-surgery recovery so complications can be avoided.
Physiotherapists can also educate men on specific behavioural techniques to help train the brain and body to control urination. The muscles can get stronger and more effective for avoiding leakage if the bladder is trained to retain urine for longer.
Research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association highlighted the role of behavioural techniques in reducing incontinence after prostate surgery, even if some time has passed since the surgery was performed. You don’t need to have just had surgery to get the benefits.
It is important to know that pelvic floor muscle conditioning is beneficial to any man (and woman for that matter) and not just those men who have been treated for prostate cancer. The pelvic floor muscles are vital to genital and urinary health and serve an essential role in sexual, urinary and bowel wellness in both genders. A fit and trained pelvic floor in men can help improve/prevent erectile dysfunction, stress urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, post void dribbling and bowel urgency and incontinence.
If you or your loved one is awaiting surgery or has recently had a prostatectomy, consider talking with a pelvic health physiotherapist. Call us at The Physio Space and book your complimentary discovery session with Chantale Pryor, Pelvic Health Physiotherapist. Together, we can work towards achieving your continence goals!
Contact:
Telephone: (613) 429-9000
Email: info@thephysiospace.ca
Website: http://www.thephysiospace.ca
