DOES THE INABILITY TO RELAX PELVIC FLOOR MUSCLES CAUSE PELVIC PAIN IN MEN?
It’s common for men to associate pelvic pain with what feels like tight pelvic floor muscles. All muscles have some level of tone, which can sometimes be perceived and believed as problematIc muscle tightness (There’s definitely no shortage of claims on social media blaming tight pelvic floor muscles for everything.) Some level of muscle tone and resistance is healthy and helps us stay upright when standing and helps keep poop and pee off the floor. Yay!
In this video, I cover:
0:00 Overactive pelvic floor muscles and chronic pelvic pain
1:10 Research on muscle tightness in men with chronic pelvic pain
3:20 Nervous system strategies for painful tight muscles
Research shows how nervous system activity is more protective in men who have pain. Strategies to retrain the nervous system and decrease stress and the body’s interpretation of perceived threats could be more beneficial to reducing pain than only practicing strategies to “relax” the muscles. (Ref: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35576002/)
This information is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a healthcare professional with any questions you may have regarding treatment, medications/supplements, or any medical diagnoses. This information is intended for educational purposes only and is in no way to substitute the advice of a licensed healthcare professional.
