Erectile Dysfunction Physical Therapy: Can It Help?

Society doesn’t talk enough about erectile dysfunction.

Many people refrain from discussing their symptoms for fear of judgement or mockery.

The unfortunate result is that erectile dysfunction can feel like an isolating problem.

However, the truth is that it’s much more common than you might think.

According to a 2007 study by Selvin et al., approximately 18% of American men aged 20 and up will experience some form of erectile dysfunction in their life.

If that’s you, you might rush to your doctor for a prescription for Viagra or Cialis at the first sign of erectile dysfunction.

But did you know that there’s plenty of other, medication free, erectile dysfunction solutions available?

For instance, physical therapy for men’s health can help.

At Capitol Physical Therapy, helping our clients live best lives is what we’re all about.

We have plenty of experience helping clients manage their erectile dysfunction.

Of course, erectile dysfunction treatment doesn’t take a one size fits all approach.

There are a number of different causes for erectile dysfunction, as well as a number of different solutions that an experienced physical therapist can provide.

This article will give an overview of some of those solutions.

Let’s get started talking all about erectile dysfunction: how it works, and how a physical therapist can help.

Read on to find out more.

What Is Erectile Dysfunction?

You might not think too much about it, but there’s more to an erection than you might think.

In fact, there’s an entire process that goes into it.

The blood vessels in your penis open wider when you’re sexually stimulated.

This allows for the increased blood flow necessary to maintain an erection.

During an erection, blood flows into two distinct chambers inside of your penis.

The veins in your penis will constrict, which helps you maintain your erection.

At the end of your erection, the blood vessels in your penis start to relax to allow the extra blood to flow back out into your body.

Erectile dysfunction can happen at any stage in the erection process.

Generally, it’s defined as the inability to either get or keep a firm erection, which interferes with sexual intercourse.

Many men will experience the occasional bout of erectile dysfunction.

For instance, excess stress or anxiety can both affect your ability to get or maintain an erection.

A lifestyle change can also play a role.

In these cases, a physical therapy wellness program can help.

However, frequent or chronic instances of erectile dysfunction are sometimes an indicator of a deeper problem.

What Causes Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction has many different causes.

Some people have a single cause for their erectile dysfunction, such as stress or physical trauma.

However, many cases of erectile dysfunction have multiple causes.

Both physical and emotional factors can play a role in the development of this condition.

You may even experience both emotional and physical causes simultaneously.

Overall, erectile dysfunction is a complex problem.

Erectile dysfunction often feels isolating, but it’s important to remember that you’re not alone.

The first step to recovery is understanding your erectile dysfunction’s unique cause(s).

Next, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most common physical and emotional causes.

Physical Causes

Erectile dysfunction has a large number of potential physical causes.

Some people experience only one cause, whereas others live with multiple.

Examples include:

• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Certain prescription medications, especially those that treat high blood pressure or depression
• Sleep disorders
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Strokes
• Recreational drug use
• Overconsumption of alcohol
• Using tobacco
• Parkinson’s disease
• Multiple sclerosis
• Damage to your pelvic floor

The risk of erectile dysfunction also increases with age.

According to a 2018 article by Lakin and Wood, approximately 70% of men aged 70 and up will deal with erectile dysfunction.

RELATED: Physica Therapy For Seniors’ Health

But that doesn’t mean that younger men can’t develop it as well.

However, most cases of erectile dysfunction in younger men are linked to lifestyle factors, such as smoking, drinking, recreational drug misuse, or poor diet.

Emotional Causes

Erectile dysfunction has fewer emotional causes than physical causes, but they are just as important.

At Capitol Physical Therapy, we account for both the emotional and physical factors in our clients experiencing erectile dysfunction.

Some of the more common emotional causes we see are:

• Anxiety or depression
• Performance anxiety
• Chronic stress
• Relationship conflicts
• A partner with dyspareunia (pain during intercourse)
• A partner with low libido due to menopause

It’s also important to consider your relationship and whether you feel genuinely attracted to your partner, for whatever reason.

How Can Physical Therapy Help With Erectile Dysfunction?

Many people are surprised to hear that physical therapy can be an effective intervention for erectile dysfunction.

But believe it or not, there’s many ways your physical therapist can help you reduce erectile dysfunction symptoms or eliminate erectile dysfunction altogether.

We’ll go through them here.

1. Pelvic Floor Exercises

Pelvic floor exercises can help you with your erectile dysfunction.

Your pelvic muscles play a role in your erections.

Therefore, problems with these muscles may lead to erectile dysfunction.

For instance, some people with erectile dysfunction have over or under active pelvic muscles.

Your physical therapist can utilize pelvic floor therapy to help strengthen the muscles you use during an erection.

Pelvic floor exercises are especially beneficial for erectile dysfunction when used alongside additional therapeutic techniques.

RELATED ARTICLE: Frequently Asked Questions About Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

2. Exercises

Exercising is excellent for your overall health, but it can also improve symptoms of erectile dysfunction.

Regular aerobic exercise increases blood flow in your body.

Aerobic exercise includes things like running, swimming, or cycling.

Blood flow is an essential part in the erection cycle.

This is because an erection requires constant blood flow into your penis.

If you’re new to exercise, it’s a good idea to speak with a professional beforehand to make sure you don’t injure yourself.

Physical therapy for sports and running injuries is fairly common, but your risk is greater if you’re exercising without knowing the proper form.

3. Relaxing Stretches

Dedicating time to relaxing stretches can help relax your body and mind.

Stretching builds physical strength and can also ease stress and anxiety, which are two common causes of erectile dysfunction.

This can include things like yoga or Pilates

Your physical therapist can work with you on some of the best stretches for erectile dysfunction.

Book Your Appointment With Capitol Physical Therapy Today

At Capitol Physical Therapy, we have dedicated physical therapists for men who can help with your erectile dysfunction.

We recognize this is often a sensitive issue, but it’s not as rare as you might think.

A landmark study, the Massachusetts Male Aging Study, found that more than half of men will experience some sort of erectile dysfunction in their lives.

So, we hope you take comfort in knowing you’re not alone.

However, we know erectile dysfunction is still a sensitive topic.

We promise to approach it with discretion, focusing on how to get you to feel better.

Don’t let erectile dysfunction rule your life.

Book your appointment with Capitol Physical Therapy today.