Pelvic floor health often comes up in conversations about pregnancy and postpartum recovery, so it’s easy to think of pelvic floor physiotherapy as something that is only for women. But everyone has a pelvic floor… including men! Men often experience urinary or bowel changes, pelvic pain, and changes in sexual function when the pelvic floor is not working as well as it should be.
At Coven Health Collective in Calgary, we help men better understand pelvic floor conditions and provide evidence informed physiotherapy treatments to address the underlying causes of their symptoms. With the right assessment and treatment plan, many people experience meaningful improvements in comfort, confidence, and daily function.
Understanding the Pelvic Floor
The pelvic floor is a network of muscles, ligaments, and connective tissue that forms the base of the pelvis. These muscles play an important role in supporting the bladder and bowel, controlling urination and bowel movements, contributing to sexual function, and working with the diaphragm, abdominal muscles, and lower back to stabilize the core during movement.
Like any muscle group, the pelvic floor can become weak, overactive, tight, fatigued, or poorly coordinated. Many pelvic floor conditions involve issues with muscle timing and coordination rather than simple weakness, which is why an accurate assessment is essential before beginning treatment.
Common Symptoms of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Pelvic floor dysfunction can present in many different ways, and symptoms often develop gradually over time.
Some men may notice increased urinary frequency, a sudden urge to urinate, difficulty emptying the bladder completely, urinary leakage, or waking several times throughout the night to use the bathroom. Others experience pelvic pain, discomfort in the groin, tailbone, lower abdomen, or perineum, as well as pain that worsens with prolonged sitting or physical activity.
Some men also experience discomfort during or after ejaculation, constipation, or difficulty with bowel movements. While these symptoms may seem unrelated, they can all be associated with dysfunction of the pelvic floor musculature.
What Causes Pelvic Floor Problems?
There is not always one clear cause of pelvic floor dysfunction. More often, symptoms develop because several factors are affecting how the muscles move, relax, and coordinate. These may include medical conditions or procedures, bowel habits, previous injuries, and the physical demands of daily life.
For example, prostate surgery or other prostate conditions can change pelvic floor function. Chronic constipation and repeated straining may also place ongoing stress on the muscles. Previous injuries involving the hips, lower back, abdomen, tailbone, or pelvis can influence how the pelvic floor works as well.
Daily activities and habits may also play a role. Heavy lifting, high-impact exercise, prolonged cycling, persistent stress, or physically demanding work can sometimes increase pelvic floor tension or make existing symptoms more noticeable. This doesn’t necessarily mean these activities need to be avoided. Physiotherapy can help identify what may be contributing and find ways to make movement and exercise feel more manageable.
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Isn’t Always Caused by Weak Muscles
Pelvic floor symptoms are often blamed on weak muscles, but weakness is only one potential piece of the puzzle!
In reality, some men have pelvic floor muscles that are too tense, overactive, or unable to relax fully. When the muscles remain switched on, they can contribute to pelvic pain, urinary symptoms, constipation, and difficulty emptying the bladder or bowels.
This is why Kegel exercises aren’t always the right place to start. For some people, repeatedly tightening the pelvic floor without first learning how to relax it can make symptoms worse.
Treatment begins by figuring out what the muscles actually need. That may include strengthening, relaxation, coordination training, or a combination of approaches.
How Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Can Help
Pelvic floor physiotherapy looks at more than the symptom itself. The goal is to understand what may be contributing and help the pelvic floor work more comfortably and efficiently with the rest of the body.
Your physiotherapist will ask about your symptoms, health history, daily activities, work, exercise, and goals. Your practitioner may also assess breathing, movement, hip and core function, and the muscles and tissues surrounding the pelvis.
Depending on the assessment results, treatment may include:
- Education about pelvic floor, bladder, and bowel function
- Breathing and pressure-management strategies
- Pelvic floor relaxation, strengthening, or coordination exercises
- Manual therapy to address muscle tension and sensitivity
- Hip, abdominal, and core exercises
- Bladder retraining
- Movement, lifting, or exercise modifications
- A home program that fits into your routine
Because pelvic floor dysfunction can look different from one person to the next, treatment is always based on your unique symptoms, experience, lifestyle, and goals rather than a standard set of exercises.
What to Expect at Your First Appointment
It is completely normal to feel unsure about what a pelvic floor physiotherapy appointment will involve! Your physiotherapist will explain each part of the assessment, answer your questions, and make sure you feel comfortable before moving forward.
The appointment usually begins with a conversation about your symptoms, health history, daily activities, and goals. From there, your physiotherapist may look at things like breathing, posture, movement, hip and core function, and the muscles and tissues around the pelvis.
In some cases, an internal rectal examination can provide helpful information about pelvic floor tension, strength, relaxation, and coordination. However, that’s not automatically part of every appointment! Your physiotherapist will explain why it may be helpful, and it will only be completed with your informed consent. You can decline or stop any part of the assessment at any time.
Everyday Habits That Support Pelvic Health
Although not every pelvic floor condition can be prevented, several healthy habits may help reduce the risk of developing symptoms.
Maintaining regular physical activity, avoiding prolonged straining during bowel movements, using proper lifting mechanics, managing stress, practicing healthy breathing during exercise, and addressing pain early can all support pelvic floor health over time. Small changes in daily habits often contribute to meaningful long term improvements in comfort and function.
When Should You See a Physiotherapist Health Physiotherapist?
It is worth scheduling an assessment if urinary symptoms, pelvic pain, or bowel concerns persist for more than a few weeks or begin interfering with your daily activities.
Early assessment may help identify contributing factors before symptoms become more persistent or begin affecting work, exercise, sleep, or quality of life. Seeking treatment early can also improve confidence and help you return to the activities you enjoy sooner.
Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy for Men in Calgary
Pelvic floor symptoms are common, but that doesn’t mean you should ignore them or assume they’re “normal”! Urinary changes, pelvic pain, bowel concerns, and discomfort with sitting, exercise, or sexual activity are all valid reasons to seek support.
At Coven Health Collective in Calgary, our pelvic floor physiotherapists work with men to better understand what may be contributing to their symptoms and develop a treatment plan based on their needs, goals, and daily activities.
Whether you’re recovering from prostate surgery, dealing with persistent pelvic pain, or noticing changes in bladder or bowel function, pelvic floor physiotherapy may help you feel more comfortable and return to the activities that matter to you.
Book a pelvic floor physiotherapy assessment at Coven Health Collective to learn more about what may be contributing to your symptoms and what treatment options may be appropriate.