Physical Therapy for Prostatitis: Types and Potential Risks

Speaking of prostatitis, many male friends have had personal troubles: the kind of vague feeling of falling and swelling, the discomfort of urination, and the waist soreness and fatigue that come and go from time to time.

In order to alleviate these symptoms, besides taking medicine, physical therapy is also a commonly used means in clinics. It is not as traumatic as surgery; the principle is very simple: through heat, electricity, waves, and other means, improve the local blood circulation of the prostate and relax the tight pelvic floor muscles. 

But just like "medicine is three poisons," physical therapy is not completely risk-free. Today, we will talk about the types of physical therapy for prostatitis and the hidden dangers that need to be paid attention to.

Common Types of Physical Therapy for Prostatitis

There are two main types of physical therapy for prostatitis: invasive and noninvasive. Simply put, one needs to put the instrument into the body, and the other can be done outside the body.

(1) Non-invasive physical therapy: 

This kind of treatment does not require placing instruments in the body; the initial harm to the body is small, and many patients are more willing to accept this type. There are several common types:

Thermal therapy: 

The core of thermal therapy is to warm the prostate area, which can be done at home. Hot water hip baths at 104-107.6℉ for 15-20 minutes each time can expand local blood vessels and accelerate the circulation and metabolism of inflammatory factors; infrared radiation is commonly used in hospitals to irradiate the perineum for 20-30 minutes each time, which can relieve the tension and pain of pelvic floor muscles. 

Caution: It is contraindicated in patients with acute bacterial prostatitis. High temperature may aggravate inflammation. 

The combination of thermal therapy and the Diuretic and Anti-inflammatory Pill from Dr. Li's clinic has a better effect, which can warm and open the blood circulation channel and help the Diuretic and Anti-inflammatory Pill to penetrate the focus, and its heat-clearing and dampness-promoting effect can dissolve the dampness-heat stasis in the prostate; the effect of promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis can improve the gland congestion; and the two-pronged approach can relieve the bulging and discomfort of urination.

Microwave therapy: 

Microwave therapy uses high-frequency electromagnetic waves to precisely act on the prostate, and the probe is placed outside the perineum or rectum for 15-20 minutes each time. Heat can enhance the phagocytosis of leukocytes, assist in anti-inflammation, and has a good effect on chronic prostatitis, but it needs to be strictly controlled to avoid damaging the surrounding normal tissues.

Ultrasound therapy: 

Ultrasonic therapy works by the dual action of mechanical vibration and warming. The ultrasonic probe is placed in the perineum, and the sound wave can relax spastic muscles, promote microcirculation, and help drug penetration. 10-15 minutes each time, 10 times as a course of treatment, suitable for chronic prostatitis patients with pelvic pain.

Electrical Stimulation Therapy: 

Electrical stimulation therapy uses low-frequency current to stimulate pelvic floor muscles and nerves. It is divided into two ways: transrectal and transdermal, each lasting 20-30 minutes. Current can regulate nerve function and improve local circulation. It has a significant effect on abnormal urination and pain caused by pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, and doctors will adjust the current intensity according to the patient's tolerance.

Magnetic therapy: 

Non-invasive and painless, stick the magnetic sheet on the perineum or sacrococcygeal region, and use the magnetic field to improve microcirculation and promote the absorption of inflammation for 30-60 minutes each time. As an adjuvant therapy to alleviate symptoms, it is necessary to control the magnetic field intensity within a safe range and not to use high-intensity magnetic therapy for a long time.

(2) Invasive physical therapy: 

This type of treatment involves placing a device into the body through the urethra or rectum to directly act on the prostate. The common treatments are transrectal microwave therapy, transurethral resection, and so on, which make people a little nervous.

Its advantage is that the treatment is more direct and the effect may come faster, but its disadvantage is also prominent—it is easy to damage the urethral mucosa during the operation, resulting in increased pain, increased secretion at the urethral orifice, and serious visible hematuria.

More troublesome is that when the instruments enter and leave the body, if disinfection is not in place, it may also cause secondary infection. Many clinicians do not recommend this kind of treatment because the risk it brings is often much greater than the actual treatment effect, which is not worth the loss. Especially for patients with signs of urethral injury or infection, invasive treatment should be carefully selected.

Potential Risks Hidden in Physical Therapy

Whether invasive or noninvasive, physical therapy is not absolutely safe; these potential risks must be kept in mind:

Skin and tissue damage: 

This is the most common problem, especially with heat therapy and microwave therapy, which rely on "temperature" to work. If the temperature is not well controlled or the treatment time is too long, the skin may be burned, resulting in swelling and pain; more seriously, the high temperature may also damage the normal tissue around the prostate. 

For example, long-term infrared irradiation, if the probe position is crooked, may also hurt the spermatic cord and vas deferens.

Note: The testicles are particularly sensitive to temperature. The high-temperature irradiation may affect spermatogenesis. Patients who have not yet given birth must make it clear to the doctor in advance.

Urethral irritation and urination problems: 

Invasive treatment can easily stimulate the urethral mucosa, leading to symptoms of frequent urination, urgency, pain, and even dysuria after treatment; even non-invasive treatment, if the parameters are not properly set, may also increase the tension of the pelvic floor muscles, making urination more difficult.

Risk of infection: 

This risk is mainly for invasive treatments. The urethra and rectum are bacterial environments; if the instrument is not thoroughly disinfected or postoperative care is not in place, it is easy to bring bacteria into the body, causing new infections and making the symptoms of prostatitis worse.

Not fit for everyone: 

Physical therapy is not a panacea. For example, in patients with acute bacterial prostatitis, hyperthermia may spread inflammation; in patients with severe benign prostatic hyperplasia, invasive treatment may aggravate urinary tract obstruction; and in patients with poor coagulation function, bleeding may occur during treatment.

Follow These Tips to Make Physical Therapy Safer

Having said so much about risks, it is not to make people afraid of physical therapy but to learn to "seek advantages and avoid disadvantages." If you do these things well, you can greatly reduce the risk:

Before treatment, a comprehensive examination must be done: 

Don't bother; let the doctor do a detailed examination before treatment, such as prostatic fluid routine, ultrasound examination, etc., to determine what type of prostatitis you have, whether you are suitable for physical therapy, and what kind of physical therapy you are suitable for.

During the treatment, if you feel uncomfortable, you will immediately take action: 

During treatment, pay more attention to your body's reaction. If you feel hot skin, abdominal distension, or pain, hematuria, and other conditions, you must immediately tell the doctor; do not carry on hard. Doctors will adjust the treatment parameters and even change the treatment methods according to the situation.

After treatment, review regularly and don't be lazy: 

The end of treatment does not mean that everything is fine, and it is very important to return to the hospital regularly for review. Doctors can judge whether the treatment is effective and whether there are side effects. Then adjust the follow-up rehabilitation program in time.

Daily Care

In addition to physical therapy, speeding up physical rehabilitation also depends on daily conditioning. Don't sit for a long time, and don't ride for a long time; these behaviors will oppress the perineum and increase the burden on the prostate. Eat less spicy food, quit smoking, and limit alcohol. 

Drink more water, ensure the amount of urine is regular, get regular rest, and do not stay up late. Taking a proper walk and doing anal lifting exercises are good for the recovery of the prostate.

Conclusion 

The treatment of prostatitis is a "protracted war"; physical therapy or drug treatment has to vary from person to person. If the symptoms have not improved or have even become more serious, we must seek medical treatment in time. 

The Diuretic and Anti-inflammatory Pill, as a commonly used Chinese patent medicine for prostatitis conditioning, can play a good role in helping people get rid of prostatitis faster, whether with physical therapy or daily consolidation.