Chronic Nonbacterial Prostatitis
Condition Overview
Chronic nonbacterial prostatitis causes long-term pain in the pelvic region and urinary symptoms. It involves the prostate gland, lower urinary tract, genital area, and pelvic floor muscles.
Common causes of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis:
Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction
Past bacterial infection of prostate gland
Neurological disorder involving lower urinary tract
Chronic/prolonged bike riding
Sexual abuse
Viruses
Irritation caused by backwards flow of urine into the prostate gland
Symptoms of Chronic Nonbacterial Prostatitis:
Pain and pressure over the bladder, lower abdomen, and genital region (perineum)
Pain with urination
Voiding dysfunction (weak urine flow, interrupted urine stream)
Increased urinary frequency and urgency
Sexual dysfunction (pain with ejaculation, erectile dysfunction)
Low back pain
How Can Physical Therapy Help?
Treatment of chronic nonbacterial prostatitis typically involves medical management including medication, stress management, lifestyle changes, and pelvic floor physical therapy.
Upon our initial evaluation, we will discuss your bowel, bladder, and sexual health as well as the onset of your symptoms and any recent changes with medical history. We will review your exercise routine in order to determine if this could be a factor of increased pain and dysfunction at this area.
With your consent we may perform an external and internal rectal pelvic floor muscle assessment to examine muscle function, strength, endurance, and coordination. With this assessment, we will determine if there is a muscular component to your pain and dysfunction.
From our findings we will set-up a treatment plan depending on your pelvic floor characteristics! We will also recommend lifestyle and behavioral changes right from the get-go including reducing sitting times, improving exercise routine, stress management, improving bladder and bowel habits, and potential use of fiber supplements.
If there is pelvic floor muscle overactivity, we will utilize downtraining techniques such as diaphragmatic breathing and manual treatment including dry needling, cupping, and connective tissue mobilization to reduce tissue tension and improve mobility and muscle function.
It may also be necessary at some point to perform kegel exercises to work on coordination and strength of these muscles once we reduce pain.
With each session we will progress as able and learn new activities to include in your daily routine to manage and prevent worsening symptoms!