A Sensitive Area
- Avid horse riders like King Charles who have just had a procedure to treat an enlarged prostate may need to hold off on horseback riding or similar activities until their doctor gives the okay, as it can irritate the area, but that doesn’t mean they need to stop their passion forever.
- King Charles may be attending England’s famed annual military event Trooping the Colour by carriage this year, rather than on horseback as he did last year, given his health condition, but it has yet to be confirmed.
- With men suffering from an enlarged prostate or similar issue, frequent riding often worsens the condition, but that doesn’t mean they have to give up their passion all together. As always, speak with your doctor before resuming vigorous activities and be sure to wait the proper amount of healing time given.
DailyMail reports that King Charles may be attending Trooping the Colour by carriage this year, rather than on horseback as he did last year, given his health condition, though some experts say it is okay to ride after around 6 weeks, but His Majesty is reportedly still in outpatient treatment in London.
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Understanding Prostate Enlargement
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as benign prostatic hypertrophy or benign prostatic obstruction, is “a condition in men in which the prostate gland is enlarged and not cancerous.”
The NIDDKD explains, “The prostate goes through two main growth periods as a man ages. The first occurs early in puberty, when the prostate doubles in size. The second phase of growth begins around age 25 and continues during most of a man’s life. Benign prostatic hyperplasia often occurs with the second growth phase.
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“As the prostate enlarges, the gland presses against and pinches the urethra. The bladder wall becomes thicker. Eventually, the bladder may weaken and lose the ability to empty completely, leaving some urine in the bladder. The narrowing of the urethra and urinary retention, the inability to empty the bladder completely, cause many of the problems associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia.”
Benign prostatic hyperplasia is often an issue with men over 50 years old, the NHDDKD also notes, adding the men with the following factors or more likely to get benign prostatic hyperplasia:
- Age 40 years and older
- Family history of benign prostatic hyperplasia
- Lack of exercise
- Obesity, heart and circulatory disease, and type 2 diabetes
- Erectile dysfunction
Horse-Back Riding and Enlarged Prostate
According to My Riding Underwear, a site dedicated to equestrian intimates and health-related issues, “Friction and bounce movement of a saddle sometimes aggravates the male prostate gland, located near the bladder. If you are a male rider already suffering from an enlarged prostate, frequent riding often worsens the condition.”
“In addition, as prostates swell, they place pressure on the bladder, sometimes causing symptoms similar to urinary tract infection,” the site read.
Staying Active After a Cancer Diagnosis
Horse trainer Trey Bullinger was treated at MD Anderson Cancer Center for rectal cancer, and once he completed treatment, his surgeon, Dr. George G. Chang, urged him to get back on those horses and keep doing what he loves. Even after a complex robotic surgery and weeks of treatment, so it really depends on what the healing time that your doctor suggests for your specific health situation.
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