What is Male Pelvic Floor Therapy?
- Nicole Cozean
- 7 days ago
- 6 min read
The male pelvic floor is a complex group of muscles, ligaments, and nerves that form the base of the pelvis. Dysfunction here can lead to issues like pelvic pain, urinary urgency or leakage, constipation, sexual dysfunction, and erectile dysfunction. Male pelvic floor physical therapy addresses the root cause of these issues, providing lasting relief and helping men return to a full, active life.
Introduction
When most people hear “pelvic floor,” they immediately think of women’s health, pregnancy, or postpartum recovery. But the pelvic floor is just as important for men — and pelvic floor dysfunction in men is far more common than most realize.
Issues can arise from an old athletic injury, years of sitting at work, a fall on the tailbone, or even low back or hip problems. Over time, these changes create dysfunction in the muscles of the pelvic floor — and that can cause all the symptoms you’d never want to talk about at a dinner party.
Fortunately, there is a specialty practice that treats this: pelvic floor physical therapy. In this blog, we’ll explore what the male pelvic floor actually is, the symptoms of dysfunction, why it’s not “just the prostate,” the connection to low back pain, and how to find a specialist trained in men’s pelvic health.
What is the Male Pelvic Floor?
The term male pelvic floor refers to the network of muscles, ligaments, and nerves at the bottom of the pelvis. Most of the time these muscles work quietly in the background, but when there’s a problem, they can disrupt some of the most important functions in daily life.
In men, the pelvic floor muscles are responsible for controlling urination, bowel movements, and sexual function. They also provide support and stability for the hips and low back.
The pelvic floor has four main functions:
Sphincteric control – These muscles allow you to control when you urinate or have a bowel movement, keeping everything in until you’re ready to go.
Support – They hold up vital organs like the bladder, prostate, rectum, and intestines.
Stability – As part of the core, they stabilize the spine, hips, and pelvis during movement.
Sexual function – The pelvic floor plays a key role in arousal, erection, and ejaculation.
When these muscles are healthy, you don’t notice them. But when they become tight, weak, or uncoordinated, the symptoms can affect the most vital functions of our daily life.
What Symptoms Can Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Cause in Men?
Pelvic floor dysfunction can show up in ways most men would rather not discuss openly. These symptoms can be frustrating, confusing, and sometimes misdiagnosed.
Pelvic pain conditions are common. Overly tight pelvic muscles can irritate nearby nerves, causing pain that radiates into the pelvis, genitals, tailbone, hips, or even down into the legs. Diagnoses like pudendal neuralgia, piriformis syndrome, tailbone pain (coccydynia), or chronic prostatitis often have pelvic floor involvement.
Urinary issues are another hallmark. Men may notice urinary urgency or frequency (always feeling like you have to go), leakage, difficulty starting or maintaining a steady stream, post-void dribbling, or feeling like the bladder never completely empties.
Bowel dysfunction can occur as well. Chronic constipation, straining, hemorrhoids, and incomplete emptying often have a pelvic floor component.
Finally, sexual health issues are strongly linked to pelvic floor dysfunction. Tight, uncoordinated muscles can contribute to erectile dysfunction, pain with arousal or ejaculation, and lingering discomfort after sexual activity.
If you’ve been struggling with any of these problems, the pelvic floor may be at the root.
Isn’t it Just the Prostate?
When men experience pelvic symptoms, the prostate often gets the blame. While the prostate does naturally grow with age, it typically takes decades before it causes noticeable problems.
If your symptoms came on suddenly, or if they vary from day to day or week to week, the culprit is unlikely to be the prostate. Instead, it’s often the pelvic floor muscles themselves.
Unfortunately, many men are led down the wrong path. They may be prescribed antibiotics or prostate medications, or even undergo unnecessary surgeries — only to find the symptoms remain because the pelvic floor wasn’t addressed.
The truth is, the prostate is often an innocent bystander. If pelvic symptoms are affecting your daily life, it’s worth looking beyond the prostate and getting a pelvic floor evaluation.
What is the Link Between Low Back Pain and Male Pelvic Health?
The pelvic floor and low back are closely connected. In fact, pelvic floor dysfunction often begins with back pain.
When the low back is injured or unstable, the pelvic floor muscles can tighten up to provide extra support. Over time, this over-activation prevents them from performing their other roles — leading to urinary issues, sexual dysfunction, bowel problems, or pelvic pain.
Research shows that more than 95% of people with chronic low back pain also have pelvic floor dysfunction. This overlap explains why some men don’t fully improve with traditional back treatments alone.
If you’ve been treated for low back pain without lasting relief, the missing piece may be your pelvic floor. Addressing both together can finally break the cycle and provide lasting results.
How To Find a Pelvic PT That Treats Men
Here’s the challenge: while pelvic floor therapy has become more common, many clinics primarily serve women during pregnancy, postpartum, or with female pelvic pain.
In fact, many physical therapists have never received training in men’s pelvic health or rectal evaluation and treatment. That means men often struggle to find a provider who understands their unique needs.
When searching for a pelvic floor therapist, ask:
Do they have specific training in male pelvic health?
What percentage of their patients are men?
Do they follow a structured protocol for men’s pelvic conditions?
Finding someone with the right expertise is key to resolving your symptoms and getting back to your normal life.
Where to Find Pelvic Floor Therapy for Men in Laguna Hills and Orange County
If you’re in Southern California, you don’t have to look far. PelvicSanity’s Men’s Pelvic Health Program is one of the most experienced in the country.
We’ve treated men from across the U.S. and more than 25 countries through our Out-of-Town Program. Located in Laguna Hills, we serve Orange County and the surrounding area with world-class pelvic floor care.
Our dedicated men’s pelvic health program is designed exclusively for the unique challenges men face. Whether you’re dealing with pelvic pain, urinary issues, bowel dysfunction, or sexual health concerns, our team specializes in addressing the root cause for lasting results.
👉 Request an Appointment today to get started with our men’s pelvic health specialists at PelvicSanity.
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Who are We at PelvicSanity?
At PelvicSanity, it's our mission to support patients with pelvic pain and pelvic floor symptoms, regardless of where you live. We can help with:
In-person treatment for those in Southern California at the PelvicSanity clinic
Immersive Out-of-Town program for those able to travel
Remote Consultations to get you expert 1:1 help, advice and an action plan
Online patient courses on Interstitial Cystitis and Movement for Pelvic Health
A Facebook support group for patients called Finding Pelvic Sanity.
Dr. Nicole Cozean is the founder of PelvicSanity Physical Therapy in Orange County, CA. PelvicSanity treats patients from all over the world with remote consultations and the Immersive Out of Town Program. She also runs Pelvic PT Rising, training other pelvic PTs to better serve patients.
Named Physical Therapist of the Year, Dr. Nicole is author of the award-winning book The Interstitial Cystitis Solution and the first PT to serve on the ICA Board of Directors, Her passion is helping those with pelvic health issues - regardless of where they live - find lasting relief.
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