ManPHIT

Prostate Health and Incontinence Training (PHIT).

It is estimated that 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.

Radical prostatectomy is the most common therapy for prostate cancer. Another common prostate cancer therapy is androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) which reduces the amount of testosterone produced. These prostate cancer therapies can be effective in treating the cancer however they can be accompanied by side effects and complications for the men undergoing them.

Complications of Treatment for Prostate Cancer
More than 80% of patients have reported urinary incontinence 1 month after radical prostatectomy. Urinary incontinence can affect patients’ activities of daily living and quality of life.

Men undergoing ADT can experience side effects such as reduced fitness, loss of bone and muscle mass, increased fatigue and weight gain.

The Role of Exercise Therapy in Cancer Rehabilitation

Exercise is an important adjunction therapy to prostate cancer therapies.

The benefits of exercise for people with cancer include:

Improved muscle strength and fitness
Improved bone density retention
Improved function for ADLs and quality of life
Improved immune function
Improved cancer therapy completion rates
Reduced emotional stress, depression and anxiety
Reduced cancer related fatigue
Reduced rate of prostate cancer mortality
Increase cancer survival rates
Exercise for prostate cancer needs to be appropriately prescribed by a health professional.

Specific exercise for urinary incontinence after a prostatectomy is most commonly prescribed in the form of pelvic floor muscle exercise. Research suggests that pelvic floor muscle exercise is an economical and safe therapy for patients, however, to correctly isolate and contract these muscles patients require the guidance of a professional therapist.

Patients who completed guided pelvic floor exercise had a higher rate of continence at 1, 3, 4, 6 and 12 months after the prostatectomy surgery.

What To Expect From The PHIT Exercise Class

The PHIT exercise class is a progressive 20-week program designed specifically for prostate cancer survivors post-prostatectomy. The class is 45 minutes in duration and is guided by an accredited exercise physiologist. The class includes:

Warm- up component
Pelvic floor specific exercises
Resistance exercises
Balance exercises
Cool down and stretching component

Sources:

Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA). (2019). Exercise and Cancer.
Zeng, T., Wu, M., Wang, C., Xiao, Q., & Peng, C. (2019). The therapeutic effect of pelvic floor muscle exercise on urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy: a meta-analysis. Asian Journal Of Andrology, 21(2), 170. doi: 10.4103/aja.aja_89_18 Online
Exercise is Medicine Australia. (2014)

Our ManPHIT Gurus

This service is available at the following locations

Burleigh Physiotherapy Centre

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We are “Members Choice” and “Members First” provider physiotherapists (at our Broadbeach clinic), for Medibank Private and BUPA, respectively.
This means that you have less out of pocket expenses for your treatment.