Most men have never consciously contracted their pelvic floor, and learning after surgery — with a catheter, pain and leakage — is harder. A single session before surgery, confirmed by a physiotherapist or by the 'stop the flow' and 'hold wind' cues, means exercises can start as soon as the catheter comes out.
- Refer to a pelvic floor physiotherapist at the time of listing for surgery.
- Use 'lift the base of the penis' or 'hold wind' as cues.
- Advise short, frequent contractions daily for several weeks before surgery.
- Restart the programme when the catheter is removed.
Why it matters
The weeks between listing and surgery are an unused window for continence training.
Read the rest in the app
You have read your two free briefings this month. The app carries all 27 specialties, every morning, free — and this finding is waiting in it.
Scan to keep reading on your phone. No account needed to start.
Tomorrow morning, before your first patient
One edition a day for urology, written by the desk, every claim tied to its paper. Six minutes.
Get the app — free