Penile Rehabilitation & Sexual Health in Men's Health Physiotherapy

Description:

This comprehensive online course from Pelvic Health Solutions and Dr. Jo Milios provides a detailed introduction to erectile dysfunction (ED) physical therapy and the significant role of pelvic health physical therapy in penile rehabilitation. ED is defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance, and  affects 50% of men at some stage in their lifetime. ED includes issues with sustaining and maintaining an erection, premature, delayed, or absent orgasm, and pain associated with sexual activity. In this course, we will review the anatomy and physiology of the male pelvis, including understanding the mechanisms of achieving and sustaining an erection. Additionally, we will explain the pathophysiology of ED and integration of the male pelvic floor. Dr. Jo Milios provides an overview of common pathologies in the area of male pelvic health including Hard/Flaccid Syndrome, Chronic Pelvic Pain and Peyronie’s Disease.

The second section of this course dives into pelvic physical therapy and penile rehabilitation recommendations for the treatment of ED. Pelvic physiotherapy has an important role in improving the quality of life and sexual health of males with ED. Dr. Jo Milios specifically discusses exercise prescription, pelvic floor muscle training and penile rehabilitation – including the use of vacuum pumps and medical management. Additionally, we will review the current body of literature that demonstrates the significant  link between cardiovascular disease and erectile dysfunction in men. This course will also evaluate the implementation of other conservative treatment options available for men with ED, including penile vibration stimulation therapy and shockwave.

For males with prostate cancer requiring prostatectomy, 99% experience erectile dysfunction and 98% experience urinary incontinence post operatively. Despite most patients experiencing improvements in their continence function, many patients continue to experience ED for up to 4 years post-operatively. In this course, we will review evidence-based recommendations for penile rehabilitation after prostate cancer surgery, including step by step treatment strategies that should be implemented at each stage of recovery, in order to improve erectile function.  

Overall, this course presents opportunities for clinical case presentations and education that can be  immediately translated to patient care to  enable you to more confidently deal with sexual health in men – a very significant and under-serviced area of physiotherapy that every practitioner could benefit from.

Learning Objectives:

In this course, we will:

1. Explore the multifaceted aspects of male sexual function and its significant impact on overall quality of life.

2. Delve into the anatomy and physiology of the male pelvic region, with a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms involved in achieving and sustaining an erection.

3. Define erectile dysfunction and penile disorders while highlighting their clinical presentations and implications

4. Investigate evidence-based physiotherapy interventions tailored for various erectile disorders, emphasizing treatment strategies and evaluating effectiveness.

5. Examine current clinical practice guidelines in depth, with a focus on the pivotal role of physiotherapy both before and after prostatectomy, and how these practices contribute to patient outcomes.

Audience: 

This online course is open to physiotherapists, nurses, nurse practitioners, occupational therapists, naturopaths, chiropractors, medical doctors, and any other licensed health care provider.