Prostate Cancer Supportive Care (PCSC) Program
The PCSC Program is a comprehensive survivorship program developed at the Vancouver Prostate Centre for men with prostate cancer, their partners, and their families from the time of initial diagnosis onward. Men can self-refer to this program or be referred by their doctor. Kegel Exercise (Strengthening pelvic floor muscles) is one of the PCSC programs, Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy for Bladder & Bowel Concerns. You may watch the presentation video, download the slides, and the male pelvic floor exercise instructions.
If you are not a prostate cancer patient, you may try the instructions on wikiHow to do Kegel Exercises for Men :Before you do a Kegel exercise, find your pelvic floor muscles by trying to stop the flow of urine mid-stream. Those are the muscles you want to squeeze during Kegels! To do the exercise, squeeze your pelvic floor (or kegel) muscles for 5 seconds, then rest for 10 seconds. Aim for 10 reps 3-4 times a day. Try doing Kegel exercises while you're talking on the phone or watching TV. To make sure you're doing the exercises correctly, keep reading by clicking the above Hyperlink!
WHAT ARE KEGEL EXERCISES?
Millions suffer from urinary incontinence (urine leakage). Often, people feel as if their bladders control their lives, but Kegel exercises may help you control your bladder. Bladder control depends on muscles working together. The bladder muscle should be relaxed when the bladder is filling, and the pelvic floor muscles should be tight. The pelvic floor muscles surround the urethra (the tube that urine passes through). When they tighten, they help prevent leakage. Strong pelvic floor muscles can help prevent leakage and calm the urge to pass urine.
It will take practice to learn how to control your pelvic floor muscles. You should exercise often enough to make it a habit. Pelvic floor muscle support usually gets better about six weeks after starting the exercises.
When women perform Kegel exercises correctly, they will feel a slight pulling in the rectum and vagina—a similar feeling to winking or puckering your lips. Men will feel a pulling of the anus and the penis will move. You can learn to control these muscles and make them stronger. For exact guidelines on how to perform Kegel Exercises, visit UrologyHealth.org/Kegels.
Strengthening your pelvic floor is one step you can take to control your bladder. But exercises may not be enough. You should tell your health care provider if you have urine urgency or if you are leaking urine. They can offer other treatment options that may provide further relief.
Dr Lisa N. Hawes is a practising general urologist with Chesapeake Urology Associates (CUA) in the greater Baltimore, MD region.
PROSTATE CANCER / PROSTATECTOMY HEALTH
Many men find that they are incontinent (involuntarily leaking urine) following a prostatectomy. Although we do not have the statistics for men, research shows that based on verbal and written instruction, 75% of women are unable to contract and relax their pelvic floor muscles correctly. Our clinical experience shows it to be about the same for men. At Dayan Physiotherapy, we use Biofeedback to assess your ability to contract your pelvic floor (Kegel’s) and, if needed, to teach you how to contract and strengthen the muscle. Once you can do this and have enough strength in your pelvic floor, we will help you learn how to use your pelvic floor to return to activities without leaking urine. This assessment can be done before the operation, giving you confidence in your skill postoperatively. https://dayanphysio.com/conditions/prostatectomy-health.php
909-750 W Broadway, Vancouver BC V5Z 1H8
604-739-3133 (phone), 604-739-3135 (fax)
info@dayanphysio.com www.dayanphysio.com
info@dayanphysio.com www.dayanphysio.com
Moved to Envision Physiotherapy, 672 Leg-in-Boot Square, Vancouver, BC
Phone: 604-876-2344 Email: info@envisionphysio.com
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