Course Description:

Now more than ever, men’s pelvic problems (i.e., urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction) are being recognized by health providers. Yet, the implementation of evidence-based management approaches remains inconsistent across health systems and providers. The inconsistent implementation has occurred despite prostate cancer being the leading cause of cancer among men in the United States, with an estimated 270,000 new cases of prostate cancer expected to occur in the coming year. With a 5-year survival rate for men diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer greater than 98%, there is now a greater focus on improving clinical management activities that lead to a higher quality of life. Beyond the management of prostate cancer, urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction have been identified as being prevalent in men across the lifespan. A greater awareness of men’s pelvic health problems has led to increased referrals to physical therapy.
Men with pelvic health problems present to physical therapy with common adverse effects and functional impairments (i.e., urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction) with far reaching consequences that impact upon their quality of life and their loved ones. To improve their quality of life, an integral part of the clinical management of men is evidence-based Men’s Health Physical Therapy Services. Men’s Health Physical Therapy Services emphasize patient-centered models of care based on informed and shared decision-making. To improve the specificity of Men’s Health Physical Therapy Services, a targeted and individualized assessment of the male continence mechanism, immediate provision of biofeedback, and enhanced patient engagement are paramount to helping men achieve their goals.
The introduction of evidence-based Men’s Health Physical Therapy Services will improve the health outcomes for men, increase interprofessional engagement among health professionals, and expand physical therapists’ scope of practice to provide services to an underserved patient population. The purpose of the course is provide comprehensive care for men’s pelvic health presentations by improving the knowledge and clinical skill base of physical therapists to deliver Men’s Health Physical Therapy Services.