If you’re a man who is having difficulty with bladder control, you are not alone. This condition is called urinary incontinence and is more common than you might think, affecting millions of men worldwide. Although it can be an uncomfortable and embarrassing problem to deal with, there are effective treatments including pelvic floor physical therapy at Restore Hope PT with Dr. Hope Cunningham.
It is time to get the help you need
It is well known that men avoid medical care. In a recent study, 72% of men surveyed said they would rather clean the bathroom than see their doctor.
Dr. Hope has extensive training and experience working with men around their bladder, bowel, and sexual health. It will not be a waste of time and we will do everything we can to protect your dignity as you get better.
Types and Causes of Male Urinary Incontinence
There are two common types of urinary incontinence: stress incontinence and urge incontinence. Both can be effectively treated with physical therapy.
Causes of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) in men
Stress incontinence means there is leakage when you put pressure on the pelvic floor as coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting, walking, running, or exercising. Stress incontinence is not related to psychological stress. It has to do with the stress of pressure on the bladder and the pelvic floor.
Most common reasons for stress urinary incontinence seen in pelvic floor PT:
Prostate enlargement
The prostate sits right under the bladder and around the urethra. When it is enlarged or removed it can affect the urine flow through the urethra and cause urine leakage. The reason for the enlargement can be cancerous or benign. Your urologist will be able to test and treat the prostate and then frequently recommend working with a Pelvic PT to help manage your symptoms.
Post Prostatectomy
After prostate cancer surgery, or prostatectomy many men continue to have urinary leakage along with other symptoms such as pelvic pain or erectile dysfunction after their period of recovery.
Pelvic surgery or injury
Abdominal surgeries such as appendix or gall bladder removal, or a hernia repair can put pressure on the bladder and contribute to leakage.
Chronic conditions
Conditions that put pressure on the bladder such as a chronic cough or chronic constipation can weaken the pelvic floor muscles over time and lead to stress incontinence. Other neurological conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson’s sometimes also make it difficult to control the bladder.
Weight gain can put additional pressure on the bladder and contribute to leakage.
Causes of urge urinary incontinence (UUI) in men
Urge urinary incontinence is characterized by a sudden, strong need to urinate followed by an involuntary loss of urine. It is often caused by muscle spasms of the bladder, which leads to frequent urination, urgency, and leakage. This is different from “overactive bladder” or chronic prostatitis which is characterized by urinary urgency and frequency but may not be associated with leakage.
Pelvic floor physical therapy will help you feel more in control by retraining your bladder to have less urge.
This often involves looking at a number of factors that may be contributing including:
Bladder Habits
such as going “just in case”. Bladder habits can be unlearned with coaching on strategies for delaying urges.
Bladder Irritants
such as caffeine, sugar, acidic foods or drinks can irritate the bladder lining. If this is a factor for you, Dr. Hope can help you find alternatives so you can enjoy your food and drink options.
Impact of Stress on Bladder Control
Dr. Hope can help you learn stress management techniques to help decrease urgency.
Anxiety
Anxiety may increase the urge to empty the bladder. Dr. Hope will ask to make sure you have good resources to help manage anxiety including psychological counseling, mindfulness, and breathing techniques.
Pelvic floor physical therapy can help with male urinary incontinence
Pelvic floor physical therapy can help with the leakage by addressing the root issues of the problem. This includes muscles, fascia, nerves, breathing patterns, movement patterns, and posture.
By working on this, you can feel in control of your bladder again. Many people have been able to return to doing the activities they love without worrying about embarrassing leakage.
Restore Hope PT approach to male urinary incontinence
Dr. Hope has extensive training and experience helping people with these sensitive and important issues. She also takes a trauma-informed approach. This means that she will work with you for safety and comfort every step of the way.
Begin therapy for male urinary incontinence in Washington, DC
Live embodied. Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy for Female Sexual Dysfunction and Dr. Hope can help you deal with some of your most sensitive issues. Your goals matter. Your comfort matters.
Contact us for a free consultation to start the process. Restore Hope offers free consultations so that we can help you navigate this confusing healthcare process. We also want to build a relationship with you right from the start.
To schedule the consultation, you can call or text me at 202-990-7177 or send an email to DrHope@restorehopept.com.
Other pelvic floor physical therapy services at Restore Hope PT
Dr. Hope works on a wide variety of pelvic health-related issues. She works with abdominal pain, chronic low back pain, and pelvic pain as well as bladder and bowel issues in men and women.