Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy for Bladder & Bowel Concerns
Urinary incontinence (UI), or urgency can occur following prostate cancer treatment. UI is when urine comes out of the bladder when you don’t want it to. Urgency is a sudden, intense, uncomfortable need to pass urine. Having your prostate removed can cause leakage. Radiation therapy can cause urgency. Most men regain bladder control within a few months, but a small percentage will have continued long-term leakage or urgency. Bladder problems can be an embarrassing topic to talk about, but there are treatments available.
We hold a 1.5-hour group education session each month held by a Registered Physiotherapist with special training in male pelvic floor. Patients who are experiencing urgency or incontinence 4-weeks following surgery can take advantage of 4 complimentary one-on-one clinical appointments with our pelvic floor physiotherapist.
During these appointments, patients will learn how to contract the pelvic floor to help improve urinary control, as well as other techniques to manage urgency. Four appointments are provided at no charge through the PCSC Program*. Our physiotherapist uses biofeedback to help teach patients how to use the right muscles for urinary control.
This pathway is intended for patients who are experiencing urinary incontinence or urgency after prostate cancer surgery. Patients who have not yet had surgery can access our separate Pre-Operative Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Program, which is designed to help prepare the pelvic floor before surgery. Through this prehabilitation pathway, patients can attend physiotherapy appointments before their operation to learn how to correctly activate and strengthen their pelvic floor muscles and prepare for their recovery after surgery.
Click Here to View the Prehabilitation: Pre-Operative Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Program
Please visit the “Session Dates” page for each location to see the time/date for the next available pelvic floor physiotherapy education session. If you you would like to attend the session or book a clinical appointment please contact the program coordinator.
*$50 will be charged for missed appointments or late cancellations.
As a module of the Prostate Cancer Supportive Care (PCSC) Program, we offer information sessions for patients (pre- or post-treatment) to understand what can be done to reduce the effects of surgery and radiation therapy on bladder function. These sessions are held monthly by a registered physiotherapist focusing on pelvic floor function for bladder control.
After you attend the information session, our physiotherapist also offers one-on-one clinical appointments for those patients with bladder concerns 12-weeks after treatment.
Other Resources:
Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy for Bladder & Bowel Concerns Recording
Click here for the Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy for Bladder & Bowel Concerns presentation slides
If you are interested in attending a module, please contact the PCSC Program Coordinator at 604-875-4485 or pcsc@vch.ca, or please complete the intake form via the link below.
CONTACT
Phone: 604-875-4485 | Phone (toll-free): 844-483-1449
Fax: 604-914-3003
Email: pcsc@vch.ca
