Men's pelvic health
Do men need pelvic floor physical therapy?
Yes. Pelvic floor physical therapy is standard care after prostatectomy, is recommended in urology guidelines for chronic pelvic pain syndrome, and is used for urgency, post-void dribble, and some forms of erectile dysfunction. The barrier for men is access, not evidence: very few therapists train in male pelvic health.
The details
What to know
Answered by the practice of Dr. Elana Shalem, DPT, pelvic floor and orthopedic physical therapist.
Men have the same pelvic floor job as women: supporting the bladder and bowel, controlling continence, and contributing to sexual function. When the muscles are weak, overactive, or poorly coordinated, men leak after prostate surgery, feel a deep ache in the perineum or testicles, run to the bathroom, or have erectile difficulty that medication does not fully fix.
Treatment is coordination training: learning to find, contract, and fully relax the pelvic floor, pairing it with breathing, and building it into sitting, lifting, and sexual activity. For pain, relaxation is the focus; for leaking, timing and strength; for erectile function, specific strengthening.
Video makes it possible for a man in a rural county to work with a specialist privately, from home, without explaining the problem to a receptionist.
Where you live
Tell us where you are
Insurance, referral rules, and booking depend on where you live. Choose your area and we take you to the right page.
Not listed? Dr. Shalem can only treat patients located in a state where she holds a license. Send a message and we will tell you what is possible.
How it works
How a virtual visit works
Most of pelvic floor physical therapy is education, breathing and pressure management, movement retraining, and a home program. All of it works on camera. During the evaluation, Dr. Shalem guides a self-assessment so she can see how the pelvic floor is coordinating with breath and movement. An internal examination is not possible by video; if a hands-on assessment would change the plan, she says so and helps the patient find local care.
Discovery call
15 minutes, free, by phoneA short call to hear what is going on, explain how visits work, and check insurance or pricing. No pressure to book.
Evaluation
60 minutes, by videoDr. Shalem takes a full history, watches how you move and breathe, and guides the self-assessments she needs to build a plan.
Your plan
Same visitYou leave the evaluation with a plain-language explanation and a short home program, usually a few minutes a day.
Follow-ups
45 minutes, every 1 to 2 weeksProgress checks, program updates, and techniques you can do yourself, for as long as they are useful.
For a video visit you will need
- A phone, tablet, or laptop with a camera
- A private room
- A mat or towel
- About an hour
Your physical therapist
Dr. Elana Shalem, DPT
Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences, Miami. Licensed physical therapist.
Dr. Shalem treats pelvic health for women and men, from pregnancy and postpartum recovery to bladder, bowel, and pelvic pain conditions and recovery after prostate or pelvic surgery, and general orthopedic conditions of the back, neck, hips, knees, shoulders, and feet. Visits are one-on-one and unhurried, and she explains what she is seeing in plain language.
More about Dr. ShalemPrefer to write? Send a message.
Questions about insurance, pricing, or whether physical therapy is the right next step? We reply within one business day.
Start with a free 15-minute call.
Tell us what is going on, hear how Dr. Shalem would approach it, and decide from there.