The Role of Physical Therapy in Men’s Health
Physical therapy plays a critical role in restoring men to optimal health through treatment of a variety of musculoskeletal and health issues, including work and sport-related injuries, post-surgical rehabilitation, chronic pain, incontinence, sexual dysfunction, and TMD. June is Men’s Health Month and June 14-20 marks Men’s Health Week, a time to highlight the importance of men’s health, early treatment of disease and injury, and development of sustainable healthy habits.
Men’s Health Conditions Treated by Physical Therapy
Men of all ages and occupations, from high school and college athletes to police officers, construction workers, and c-suite executives, can benefit from physical therapy. Physical therapists are experts in movement, restoring function to the body, eliminating pain, and improving overall fitness. Physical therapists can treat a variety of injuries and conditions affecting men and can also help men prevent injury and maintain function through a customized exercise and strengthening program.
Physical therapists can treat the following conditions:
Back Pain: Back pain can result from a variety of situations, including poor posture when sitting at work or standing on an assembly line, improper lifting technique of heavy items, manual labor, and sports and work-related injuries. Back pain can be caused by a muscular strain, disc or joint irritation, sacroiliac dysfunction, or an acute injury. Physical therapists treat back pain, sciatica, and adult scoliosis and provide post-back surgery rehabilitation. Physical therapists treat back pain through manual therapy, postural training, aquatic therapy, lumbar traction, and a therapeutic exercise program that includes stretching, dynamic stabilization, core strengthening, and low-impact aerobic exercise.
Concussions: A concussion can occur due to a sports injury, a fall, a workplace accident, or a car accident. A concussion is a temporary mild traumatic brain injury that can result in an array of cognitive, physical, and behavioral symptoms. Physical therapists are qualified to manage concussions through evidence-based treatment protocols and a personalized rehabilitation program that includes vestibular rehab, manual therapy, balance training, and a graded, progressive exercise program.
Work-Related Injuries: If you have experienced a work-related injury that has caused you to miss work and limited your function, our physical therapists provide a comprehensive work injury rehabilitation program to ensure you return to work safely with full functional capacity and strength. Physical therapists objectively measure a worker’s physical capabilities and tolerances using a functional capacity test throughout treatment; rehabilitation includes a specialized exercise program that replicates and simulates work-specific tasks, body mechanic instruction, strength training, and a work conditioning program.
Jaw, Head, & Neck Pain: If you are experiencing pain, clicking, or locking in the jaw, you may have TMJ (temporomandibular joint) issues that can lead to headaches, neck pain, and reduced jaw function. Physical therapists can treat TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder) through neuro-muscular re-education, manual therapy, joint mobilization techniques, and gentle exercises to stretch and strengthen the jaw. Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal issues that can result from joint or muscle issues, a pinched nerve, or a whiplash injury. Therapists treat neck pain using manual therapy, dry needling, cervical traction, posture education, and stretching and strengthening exercises of the neck.
Sports Injury Rehabilitation: Sports-related injuries during golf, football, tennis, basketball, soccer, and baseball are quite common among men and can include ACL injury, a meniscus tear, golfer’s elbow, thrower’s shoulder, Achilles’ tendonitis, runner’s knee, and rotator cuff injuries. Sports medicine physical therapists work with athletes to manage and minimize pain, improve mobility, reduce the risk of future injury, and achieve peak performance with targeted exercises to return to pre-injury function. Athletes simulate sport-specific drills on our clinic’s AstroTurf and receive objective testing and evaluation of ability, progress, and safe return to sport using the BTE PrimusRS objective testing equipment.
Incontinence & Sexual Dysfunction: Whether due to age, disease, or injury, men may experience incontinence and sexual dysfunction if the pelvic floor muscles have weakened. Physical therapists can address bladder and bowel function issues and erectile dysfunction through pelvic floor muscle re-training and strengthening as well as core stabilization exercises. A study showed a 75% improvement in erectile dysfunction after physical therapy treatment.
Post-Surgery Rehabilitation: Following a joint replacement surgery, post-surgical rehabilitation with a skilled physical therapist is essential. Post-surgery rehab helps patients manage post-operative pain, regain strength, decrease stiffness and swelling, improve flexibility and quality of movement, retrain muscles, restore mobility and function, and return to daily activity more quickly.
Vertigo & Balance Issues: Vertigo and balance issues can negatively impact a man’s capacity to work and perform daily activities. These issues may develop due to injury or the aging process. Physical therapists treat vertigo and balance-related issues using vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT). VRT helps to reduce dizziness and vertigo through gaze stabilization exercises, habituation exercises, and balance training.
Parkinson’s Disease: Parkinson’s disease is a condition that affects 50% more men than women. It is a progressive, neurodegenerative disorder that can affect a man’s physical and cognitive abilities. Physical therapists work with Parkinson’s patients to combat movement dysfunction and impaired balance and coordination as well as improve posture, strength, and mobility. At our clinic, our physical therapists provide a therapeutic boxing program to help Parkinson’s patients fight the disease.
Habits for Optimal Men’s Health
Throughout a man’s lifetime, it is important to take steps to improve, preserve, and enhance his physical function and mobility.
Three important habits to optimize your health as a man include:
Exercise. Engage in consistent aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise helps to reduce the risk of chronic health conditions and combat heart-related conditions (heart disease is among the leading causes of death in men), obesity, and diabetes by maintaining blood sugar levels and a healthy weight and enhancing cardiovascular and bone health. Regular strength training is critical to maintain and improve muscular strength.
Nutrition. Maintaining a balanced, whole-food diet high in vegetables, lean protein, shellfish, healthy fats like nuts and avocados, and fruits is key for overall function and a healthy weight.
Regular Health Checks. It is important that men have a yearly wellness check with their primary care provider and do preventative screenings to address any health issues and pain early. Work with a physical therapist to manage pain and musculoskeletal issues and regain strength, function, and mobility.
