shljk wrote:As far as the question of weightlifting and PN/PNE goes, I would be surprised if weightlifting, over a sustained period of time, didn't cause PN/PNE problems for some because of the "baring down" or incorrect tensing of abdominal muscles leading to an increase in intra-abdominal pressure and strain on the pelvic floor that can happen when people are lifting weights. Sorta like childbirth or constipation, both of which have been identified as causes of PN.
Interesting theory - but, there has to be some underlying pathology. Too many people lift weights who never get PN. And I would be pretty certain that many of them are not doing it properly (ie., stabilizing their core, etc) when doing it. Nor is the average person usually biomechanically without flaw, and few exercise without training error.
I think this would be an interesting study - how many professionally trained athletes get PN? Think about professional football players - what they put their body through. I've never heard of a football player with PN (of course, pain in the genitals is not something I would imagine they would talk about - lol). They get a lot of other overuse injuries and impact injuries, but one thing that is emphasized in professional sports training is stabilization - not only of the core muscles, but even stabilization of other muscles that are used (example: they don't do a lot of bench pressing or delt work without also strengthening the rotator cuff (SITS) muscles. )
Most recreational athletes (and sadly many trainers) are doing things like sit-ups ad infinitum - never ever realizing that this six pack they are creating has little to do with true core strength from the transversus abdominus, multifidus and the pelvic floor/pelvic sling.