Do pelvic floor exercises help prevent urinary problems?
Men who have gone through various types of prostate surgery are often encouraged to do pelvic floor muscle exercises to help strengthen the muscles of their pelvic floor. Pelvic floor muscles support both the bladder and the bowel and stretch from one side of the pelvis to the other. Pelvic floor muscle exercises (also known as Kegel exercises) may help to control the bladder and prevent urine leaking. It may be helpful for men to learn these exercises before surgery so that they are familiar with them. These exercises are generally recommended after prostate surgery because the muscles that control opening and closing of the bladder (urinary sphincter) can be affected during operations on the prostate. This is especially true after a radical prostatectomy. Finding pelvic floor muscles can be done while urinating by tightening up and trying to stop urine flow. Pulling up or lifting the muscles of the rectum (back passage) can sometimes help. The correct muscles are found once urine flo
