By now, we are all aware of the impact physical activity can have on overall health and pain management.
A ton of studies over half a century prove that regular exercise curbs your risk of stroke, heart disease, and specific types of cancer, like prostate cancer.
It also alleviates some of the problems with chronic ailments, like arthritis-related stiffness and joint pain.
But, have you ever considered exercise for prostatitis?
How Can Exercise Help Prostatitis?
Prostatitis is a more prevalent urologic disorder than people realize. The overall prevalence of chronic prostatitis is roughly 4.5% to 9%, with recurrence rates spiking up to 50% due to old age.
Prostatitis exercise is like a turbo boost to a healthy prostate. High amounts of physical activity could curb the risk of chronic pelvic pain syndrome/chronic prostatitis in older and middle-aged men.
Based on a randomized, double-blind study, 231 male patients between 20 and 50 years with chronic pelvic pain syndrome/chronic prostatitis who were unresponsive to conventional treatment tried moderate-intensity exercise.
Improvement in symptoms was significantly superior in the aerobic group compared to the placebo stretching. Patients managed to experience better pain management and quality of life. This makes aerobic exercise a valid treatment option for prostatitis symptoms, like chronic pelvic pain.
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6 Exercises That Are Good for Prostatitis
The prostate can be a thorn in your side. Prostatitis patients typically complain of a plethora of symptoms.
Lower urinary tract symptoms are a pressing issue. These symptoms can lead to urinary dribbling, nocturia, poor urine flow, and more. But, prostatitis patients also have symptoms that go well beyond urinary incontinence.
The prostate infection and bladder problems can be accompanied by rectal pain, chronic pelvic pain, and constipation. Symptoms can also be related to external pain in the genitals, burning sensations, premature ejaculation, lower back pain, erectile dysfunction, etc.
With a progressive ailment, like chronic prostatitis or chronic bacterial prostatitis, the patient’s quality of life can quickly plummet. That’s where exercise makes for a practical approach. These exercises below can help.
1. Kegel Exercises to Train and Fortify the Pelvic Floor
Kegels bolster the pelvic floor muscles and enable the patient to establish proper urination control. Kegels are also recommended post-prostate cancer treatment.
That’s because the bladder muscles grow weak with age and from infection. They need the extra help to get back on track. Kegels should become a part of your daily routine to better manage urinary symptoms.
How to: Tighten the pelvic floor and hold the contraction for 3 seconds. Relax for 3 seconds and repeat a couple of times in a row. When the pelvic floor gets used to the contractions, do the exercise while walking, standing, or sitting.
2. Aerobic Workouts to Help Stool, Digestion, and Metabolism
Dry, hard stools are difficult to get rid of. Aerobic workouts are here to speed things up a bit.
Increasing your heart rate and breathing can stimulate natural muscle contraction, particularly in the intestines. This makes it easier for the stools to leave the system.
Any aerobic workout makes a solid prostatitis exercise for symptoms control. Whether that is running, swimming, or walking. It could also complement current standard prostate cancer treatment. And reduce prostate cancer development.
3. Yoga to Get Your Mental Health in Check
Prostatitis pain is no stranger to depression, anxiety, and poor quality of life. That’s where yoga can make for a practical prostatitis exercise of choice.
In fact, yoga has a profound impact on your emotional state. Not only can it ease the symptoms of major depression, but it also yields improvements in mood management.
It can ease chronic pain, inflammation, and boost mobility. This may be exactly what you need after dealing with pelvic pain syndrome and bladder problems for so long.
4. Moderate Calisthenics to Target Muscle Weakness
Some muscle groups can become weak when dealing with nonbacterial or bacterial prostatitis. Working on your strength, flexibility, and coordination may help.
Calisthenics is a type of physical activity that relies on a person’s body weight can target muscle weakness. Squats, for instance, fortify the pelvic floor. Planking strengthens the core, while push-ups build upper body strength and engage the abdomen.
5. Coordination Exercises to Work on Your Balance
Any activity that offers better coordination and balance can help. Around 2 to 3 sessions a week for eight weeks can be a viable tool for boosting the quality of life in older adults.
Talk with a doctor or personal trainer to figure out which coordination exercise can work for your prostatitis problems.
6. Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy to Restore Pelvic Floor Function
Sometimes, a single exercise is not enough to deal with nonbacterial prostatitis symptoms, chronic pelvic pain syndrome, or the aftereffects of cancer treatment and physical therapy may also be necessary.
The doctor creates a personalized treatment plan. It could include coordination exercises, relaxation, physical activity for shortened pelvic muscles, stretching, and more. Ultimately, the therapy will use various techniques and modalities to restore normal pelvic floor functioning.
Conclusion
Prostatitis symptoms can take a toll on your prostate. The pain, paired with other symptoms, can be overbearing. Exercise can give the body and muscles a healthy boost.