When should I see a pelvic health physiotherapist if I have been diagnosed with Prostate cancer?

You should be explained the options of Radical Prostatectomy (removal entirely) and radiation therapy by your urologist. You may then also consult with a radiological oncologist, and then you make your decision. During this time pre-operatively is the best time to seek physiotherapy assessment to practise for pelvic floor muscle exercises and learn about bladder control.

If I have a bladder issue do I need pelvic floor muscle training?

Not necessarily. In fact bladder issues can also arise with a tight, stiff and overactive pelvic floor. Any state that changes the optimal function of the pelvic floor, that is a nice elastic tissue with good shortening and lengthening. These different presentation require different treatment approaches, and maybe there is something external going on in the life we need to address.

How often do I need to attend physiotherapy?

Unlike treating an acute muscle or joint issues, session a not often multiple times a week or even weekly. It is useful to have the first 2 sessions 2 weeks apart to ensure all the information in understood, opportunity to ask questions and review the initial treatment strategies. Then I usually space sessions out about 4-6 weeks apart.

How long until the pain goes away?

I get asked this all the time. Consider how long you have experienced the pain, it may not be a quick fix. Be prepared for the journey and to be consistent and positive throughout the process. We must not only consider the tissue or area where the pain is felt, but also the tension throughout the whole body, the mind, what does that brain think about the pain and what event wound up or continues to wind up your system?

How long will it take to improve urinary incontinence or prolapse?

We have good Grade A, level 1 evidence (this is the highest), that we can improve and have 50% cure rate of urinary incontinence with pelvic floor exercises. In large cohort studies, the average rate of cure was for incontinence was within 3-4 months and around 6 months for prolapse symptoms. Prepare to put in the effort, because although this may seem like a long time, in the long run you are significantly changing your quality of life for the long term and a lifetime. It takes 8 weeks initially to create hypertrophy (thicken) a muscle with a regular exercise program, this is when you will first notice changes.