The importance of pelvic floor exercises for men

Created on

14/9/2026

Last updated on

2/11/2026

Written by Hannah Gray, Women's and Men's Health Specialist Physiotherapist.
Medically reviewed by James Walker, Service Development Director & Senior Physiotherapist, on 14/09/26.

Often, men aren't aware of their pelvic floor muscles until there's a problem. Keeping these muscles strong can help reduce bowel and bladder symptoms such as leakage, urgency as well as difficulty controlling wind.

Pelvic floor exercises for men involve tightening and then relaxing the muscles that support the bladder and bowel. Practised regularly, they can help improve control over urine, stool and wind. They need no equipment, they can be done sitting, lying or standing, and most men can learn to find the right muscles in a few minutes.

These symptoms are more common than most men realise, and they are rarely talked about. In a study of men aged 40 to 79 at a UK centre, 14.4% reported some degree of urinary incontinence [1]. Maintaining pelvic floor health can help with this common complaint, and it is one of the areas our men's health physiotherapy service exists to support.

What are your pelvic floor muscles?

In men, the pelvic floor muscles are sling-like structures that support the bladder and bowel. They play an important role in controlling when you pass urine, stool or wind.

The pelvic floor muscles sit between your legs, stretching from the pubic bone at the front to the base of the spine (coccyx) at the back.

Everyone has a pelvic floor, but the anatomy and the exercise cues differ between men and women. If you are looking for the women's version of this article, Jackie Gibbon has written about what the female pelvic floor is and what it does.

What happens if the pelvic floor muscles are weak?

When the pelvic floor muscles weaken, they may not provide sufficient support or control.

This may cause symptoms such as:

Urinary leakage
Leakage of stool
Difficulty controlling wind

If bladder symptoms are your main concern, we cover them in more detail in our article on what to do about bladder symptoms.

Why do the pelvic floor muscles weaken?

There are several reasons why the pelvic floor muscles may weaken over time. These include:

Lack of regular exercise. The pelvic floor muscles need regular exercise to stay strong.
Pelvic surgery. Prostate or bowel surgery can weaken the muscles. We look at this in more detail in our article on how physiotherapy can help manage prostate problems in men.
Straining and constipation. The 'pushing down' movement when you strain can stretch your pelvic floor muscles beyond their comfortable range, making them weaker.
Weight gain. Being overweight puts more pressure on your pelvic floor.
A chronic cough. Coughing puts pressure on your pelvic floor muscles.

Why should men do pelvic floor muscle exercises?

Pelvic floor exercises can help strengthen these muscles so they can better support your bladder and bowel.

Pelvic floor training is not just for symptoms that have already become severe. In a randomised trial of men with an enlarged prostate and an overactive bladder, adding pelvic floor muscle training with an urgency suppression technique to their usual medication significantly improved urgency, daytime frequency and overall symptom scores after 12 weeks, compared with medication alone [2].

With regular practice, many men notice improved control, fewer symptoms of leakage and greater confidence in their day-to-day life.

How to find your pelvic floor muscles

It is important to ensure you are working the correct muscle groups when doing pelvic floor exercises.

Start by sitting or lying comfortably, with your thighs, buttocks and stomach relaxed. Imagine you are trying to stop yourself from passing wind, and tighten the muscles around your back passage. Then relax.

Another visualisation to try is imagining you are trying to stop the flow of urine. You may notice a lifting sensation, including a slight movement of the testicles. Then relax again.

Take your time practising this movement until you feel confident you are using the right muscles.

When should I do pelvic floor exercises?

When you first start, it is normal for these muscles to grow tired quickly, and the exercises may take some concentration. With practice, they will become easier to perform as part of your daily routine.

Aim to practise regularly throughout your day, gradually building up as your strength improves. These are exercises you can do anytime and anywhere.

Get pelvic floor support from the White House Clinic

If you are unsure whether you are doing the exercises correctly or if your symptoms are not improving, physiotherapy can help.

At the White House Clinic, our specialist men's health physiotherapists provide tailored support to help you strengthen your pelvic floor and improve your symptoms. Men's health physiotherapy appointments are available at our Chesterfield clinic.

Our women's health physiotherapy page sets out how a first pelvic health appointment is structured, from an open and confidential discussion of your symptoms through to a tailored treatment plan.

If you are unsure which service you need, we would recommend being triaged by our team before arranging an appointment. You can do this by calling 0114 230 2030 or emailing info@whitehouse-clinic.co.uk, and one of the team will briefly go over your concerns and identify the best person for you to see. Men's health physiotherapy is not yet listed in the online booking options, so this is the route that works today.

This article is general information and not a substitute for individual assessment. Book an appointment or call 0114 230 2030 to speak to our team.