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Most movement activities involve standing on your feet. And just like a good building, a strong foundation is needed to keep the structures stable and healthy. If your foot foundation tends to roll to the inside excessively, you are a pronator. If instead it tends to roll to the outside, you are a supinator. The easiest way to find this out is to walk barefoot with wet feet on concrete. 
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If you have been following along with me for a while in these blogs we have already covered some of the more common side effects from prostate cancer treatment and prostate removal. If you haven’t, scroll down to read more about post prostatectomy pain and erectile dysfunction. One of the most common and probably most bothersome side effects from having the prostate removed is urine leakage (or incontinence). In general this problem is divided into 2 main types. You may find that you experience one or the other and some people experience both.  Erectile Dysfunction- try physical therapy first!Erectile dysfunction is defined as the inability to get or maintain an erection that is firm enough for satisfying sexual activity. It can also refer to the inability to get or maintain an erection that is as rigid as it used to be (1). Erectile dysfunction is more common in older age groups, but can be diagnosed at any age. In younger individuals this can be a sign of a serious underlying condition including Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) and prostate cancer. Erectile Dysfunction is also a common side effect after prostatectomy. How does physical therapy help?
 If you tuned into our part one blog post, about prostatectomy and the pelvic floor, I mentioned that the prostate is an important structure that adds rigidity to the pelvic system. The removal of part or all of the prostate increases the risk of both erectile dysfunction and urine leakage due to the loss of this support structure. Some other common changes after prostatectomy include minimal or no ejaculate (because the prostate and seminal vesicles, which produce semen and ejaculatory fluid have been removed or damaged by radiation or chemo). This also means that fertility will be affected and you will no longer be able to conceive children naturally (2). For anyone suffering from erectile dysfunction, whether after a prostatectomy or not, the research supports trying physical therapy first. A couple of benefits of physical therapy:
 If you or someone you love is experiencing ED (related to a surgical procedure or not) give us a call today; our expertly trained, passionate physical therapists are available to answer your questions about your specific problem and to see if physical therapy is the right treatment for you. Or click the link below to request a free, no commitment 20 minute consultation to meet with Kristen, our male pelvic floor specialist.
The 4th Trimester- The best, crazy, messy transition of your life. It’s ok to ask for help3/25/2021  *This post is intended as general wellness information and is not intended to replace medical advice or treatment.
Many doctors are changing their thinking on how we support baby, mom and dad in the first three months after birth, which has lead to the term “4th trimester”. Previously, there has been so much focus on the 9 (or sometimes 10) months leading up to a healthy birth, but not as much information or planning for after. Many mothers feel overwhelmed and underprepared for what to expect when they go home from the hospital. This can be an especially challenging time for moms (and new dads) who feel like they have to “get back to normal” or “have it all together”. For 9 months, baby is in their perfect environment... eating whenever he or she wants, going to the bathroom whenever and wherever; it is warm, it is safe, there is a constant hum of noise from mom. Then birth….not the most friendly introduction to the world, for you or your little one. There is pressure, pain and sometimes a long recovery. Now baby has longer gaps between feeding, is sleeping in a new place, there are bright lights, and loud sounds. Some experts have described babies in the first three months of life as “fetuses outside the womb” They still need almost constant support from mom, but unlike in the womb, these needs aren’t met automatically. Prostate cancer is the second most common type of cancer to affect North American men (1). Approximately 1 in 9 men in the US will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lives. While it is less common for diagnosis in men under the age of 50, 1 in 59 men age 50-59 will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and the rate shoots up to 1 in 13 for men age 70-79. Risk factors for prostate cancer include age, family history of cancer, genetic factors, race, lifestyle and dietary habits. 60% of all prostate cancers are diagnosed in men over age 60. African American men are 76% more likely to develop prostate cancer compared to white men, and more likely to die from the disease, obesity also increases the risk of prostate cancer as well as the risk of more serious side effects (2).  This is the time of year when we turn our thoughts to New Year's Resolutions and our personal fitness. Often those goals are frustrated by injuries, distractions, or discouragement. Here are some ways to prevent that, and turn those resolutions into healthy habits!   For many of us, the holiday season is accompanied by food, family, and oftentimes a headache or two. Headaches are, in fact, one of the most common ailments many patients face during the festive season – albeit literally or figuratively!
When it comes to pain, though, the good news is that headaches don’t have to be a guaranteed side effect of your time off. Luckily, there are ways to relieve your headache and even prevent it happening in the first place. This post offers you some highly effective tips for overcoming your headaches and staving off any future pain. Take a look:
Physical therapy has always been shrouded in mystery, and the truth is many people don’t really know what it is. Some think that physical therapists only stretch muscles, or rehabilitate athletes. Others feel as though physical therapy is an intense massage, or even just a way to avoid being stiff after a workout. As a physical therapist with many years of experience, I can honestly say that, despite all these conflicting ideas about physical therapy, one thing remains constant: most people believe we heal pain. And yes – we do heal pain, but what most people don’t understand is that physical therapy is NOT only about healing pain… it is about SO much more than that. This may sound controversial, but keep reading.
 If you generally step more gently as you go down the stairs, hold the hand-railing a little bit tighter, and take careful note of where your feet land next … you’re not alone. The vast majority of us either consciously or subconsciously fear the sudden jolt and feeling of vertigo related to feeling taking a tumble – not to mention the pain that comes afterwards! Our worst fears are realized when we start to think about the horrendous consequences of a fall: hip-fractures, muscle tears, back pain, even broken legs all come to mind. Yikes! Is it any wonder that a common nightmarish theme is falling out of bed? In fact, a fear of falling is so common that most people don’t even know they’re afraid! That’s right – the fear isn’t consciously spoken about or acknowledged, rather it translates into minute, prolonged posture and gait (walking) abnormalities which, if left unnoticed, can wreak havoc on one’s mobility and self-confidence. That’s why this post looks at why most people are secretly afraid of falling, why most don’t even know they’re afraid, and – thankfully – what we can do about tackling this problem. |
Kimberly
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