Did you know that physical therapy used to be a female-only profession? In fact, the American Physical Therapy Association as we know it today used to have “women” in its name! APTA’s original name (back in 1921) was “American Women’s Physical Therapeutic Association”.
A year after, the association started to allow men to become members. Today, APTA boasts of 95,000 licensed physical therapists.
Physical therapy is now becoming more in demand than ever. In fact, experts project this sector to grow by 22% from 2018 to 2028.
After all, many patients now consider physical therapy over more invasive treatments. PT has shown over and over again that it can help treat different types of injuries and even diseases.
The question now is, how exactly does physical therapy benefit men and why should you go for it? Is there any male-specific condition that PT can help with?
We’ll answer all these questions in this post, so be sure to read on!
1. Consider Physical Therapy as a Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is more prominent in older men, but it now also affects a quarter of men under the age of 40. Regardless of your age though, physical therapy can successfully address your ED problems.
It can do so through specific pelvic floor physical therapy procedures. These often include manual therapy and “reeducating” the pelvic nerves and muscles. Physical therapy exercises will also help improve blood flow to your pelvic region.
Keep in mind that ED results from a decreased flow of blood into the penis. Many factors can cause this reduction, including damaged blood vessels and weight issues. Poor heart and mental health, as well as lifestyle habits, can also cause ED.
Exercise and physical activities, in general, can reduce the severity of erectile dysfunction. For instance, a study found that men who exercised more for two years had a 22% decrease in ED prevalence.
Adding physical therapy to your regimen can help enhance your treatment outcome.
2. PT Can Help Relieve Musculoskeletal Ailments
Compared to men, women have twice the risk of certain musculoskeletal disorders. Injuries of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are also two to eight times more common in women.
Despite all these, females have a lower mortality rate from these injuries.
Fortunately, physical therapy works for both genders when it comes to musculoskeletal conditions.
For starters, physical therapy is a non-invasive, non-medicated method for treating back pain. Instead of surgery or medications, it relies mostly on physical manipulation. Some patients may also undergo ultrasounds, electrical stimulation, and temperature or light therapy.
The procedures that a physical therapist will use on you depend on your exact condition. Check out this Awesomephysiotherapy.com article for more info on these procedures.
3. It Helps To Reduce Pain and Inflammation from Repetitive Strain Injuries
Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) are among the most common workplace injuries. Every year, as many as 1.8 million workers in the US develop and suffer from RSIs. Any movable part of the body, like the wrists and joints, can develop these injuries.
A perfect example is carpal tunnel syndrome, which mostly affects the wrists. Tendonitis is also very common, and like CTS, it is also painful and can even be debilitating.
RSIs are most common in people who type and use a computer mouse a lot. The same goes for those whose jobs involve grasping mechanical or hand tools. Some occupations that have a high risk are mechanics, technicians, chefs, and cashiers.
If you’re one of these people, a physical therapist can teach you RSI stretching techniques to help ease your painful symptoms. Moreover, PT treatments can bring back the mobility and function of the injured body part.
4. Helps You Get Back On Your Feet after a Sports Injury
Being active and playing sports are no doubt helpful in improving men’s health. Men also tend to have a deeper relationship with sports, especially contact sports.
However, doing these activities in excess, as well as accidents, can also lead to injuries.
If you find yourself moaning and groaning after a sports injury, go for physical therapy. Aside from relieving your aches and pains, it can also help you recover faster.
5. Makes You Less Susceptible to Injuries
Speaking of injuries, physical therapy doesn’t only help you recover from them. It can also help you avoid getting them in the first place. A physical therapist will identify your injury risk factors and imbalances.
From here, the therapist will then create a plan to strengthen your body’s weakest aspects. The therapist will also incorporate the appropriate balance training into your program. In this way, you also get to enjoy the benefits of physical therapy for performance.
6. Helps Improve COPD Treatment
16.4 million people in the US have diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It’s deadly and uncurable, but it’s treatable and even preventable.
Seeking physical therapy professionals should be a top priority if you have COPD. Studies have found that PT can reduce dyspnea (labored breathing) in COPD patients. It has also shown to help boost the strength and the function of the lung muscles.
7. You May Snore Less
The results are out, and men do, after all, snore more than women. Only about one in four adult women snore habitually. Whereas 40% of men have developed the habit.
If your snoring is due to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), then physical therapy may help. OSA affects about 10% to 15% of people with COPD. By treating your COPD with physical therapy, then you may also get your snoring under control.
Get More Physical With Physical Therapy
There you have it, at least seven (of the many other) reasons you should consider physical therapy. Regardless of your gender, PT can help you become more mobile and protect you from injuries. You can then stay active and perform better, which then helps you enjoy a better quality of life. Another style of therapy that has become very popular for home use in 2021 is red light therapy with red and near infrared light wavelengths providing fantastic study-backed benefits including muscle gain, muscle repair and faster recovery for sports professionals.
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