Sports Injuries Linked to Erectile Dysfunction
April 28, 2022
Most men have heard how routine exercise is important to maintaining good sexual health. If fact, there are more than a half century of studies that confirm staying physically active reduces the risk of developing many health conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Moreover, maintaining an exercise routine can actually improve male sexual performance. Whereas walking every day is a safe and affordable exercise routine, most men prefer to engage in more robust activities.
Sexual function is not only a critical marker of overall health but is also key to a man’s well-being. That’s why developing an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms behind the effects of sports injuries on sexual performance is expected to produce a better solution than simply prescribing ED medications. Although there is not a specific exercise for reducing the risk of erectile dysfunction, a well-rounded regimen produces the best results. Water sports and aqua aerobics are an excellent choice to raise heart rate and improve fitness without jarring the joints. However, not everyone enjoys the water, and some don’t have access to a pool.
Sports and Sexual Performance Issues
Over the past twenty years, there has been a growing interest in understanding how to prevent, diagnose and treat male genital disorders related to engaging in popular mens sports. Male sexual performance issues that have been linked to physical activities often include some of the sports discussed below:
Intense Training – Men who routinely engage in intense workouts, such as powerlifting, have reported lower libidos than those whose workouts involve less-intense routines. A research survey conducted by the University of North Carolina concluded that men who preferred intense workouts often felt too tired to want sex, where men who followed a normal schedule actually wanted sex more often. It is a strange paradox where exercise helps reduce the risk of ED but there is a fine line between the right amount and doing too much.
Helmet Sports – From race car drivers to football players, sports that require helmets or body armor are usually contact sports that can lead to concussions, brain trauma, and groin injuries. Most helmet sports are potential sources for hypogonadism and erectile dysfunction. Many former National Football League players have reported diagnosis of low testosterone and treatment for erectile dysfunction. It is hoped that by identifying head and penile injuries, as probable causes of sexual dysfunction, it will help more men and their physicians overcome the stigma and talk openly about ED treatments.
Bicycling – Bioengineering studies have concluded that too much bicycling causes a major risk for erectile dysfunction due to the prolonged compression of perineal arteries that leads to reduced penile perfusion. According to an article published by the National Institute of Health, the incidence rate of ED is believed to be 13-24% in men who ride frequently. Spinning classes and long distance cycling that requires long hours on the seat as well as offroad cycle sports were the major culprits for injury and obstruction of blood flow to the penis.
Boxing & Ultimate Fighting – Similar to the sports discussed earlier that require participants to wear a helmet, boxing (and ultimate fighting) increase a man’s risk of head injuries. This is due in part to the fact that the goal is to knockout your opponent. Concussions are a very serious neurological condition and brain trauma can have a major impact on male sexual performance. Erectile dysfunction involving groin and penile injuries are also more common with these types of high-contact physical activities that have been linked to ED.
Extreme Sports – Extreme sports continue to be more and more extreme. Following crashes that involve multiple trauma (spinal injury, pelvic injury, head trauma, or perineal injury) men often have a reduced sex drive and may suffer from ED. Where neurogenic causes are common, a decreased flow in cavernosal arteries may occur due to vascular injury. Endurance athletes who train hard over extended periods of time may also experience erectile dysfunction. In addition to trauma, simply pushing the body to its limits can produce sexual side effects that may take a toll on a man’s sex life.
On a positive note, many studies suggest that physical activities, exercise interventions, and recreational sports of low to moderate intensity are associated with patient-reported improvements. So much so, the positive impact on sexual performance should serve as a motivator to encourage men to exercise more often, whether it is a brisk walk or walking during a round of golf.
What Kinds of Exercise Can Improve ED?
If you are struggling with the effects of erectile dysfunction, there are several exercises that have proven beneficial in helping men improve their sexual performance. In addition to promoting a healthier lifestyle, physical therapies, aerobic exercises, and well-maintained workouts have been used to eliminate or normalize ED in medical studies. For example, researchers say one of the most beneficial exercises for improving erectile dysfunction are Kegels. When performed correctly, Kegels strengthen the muscles (bulbocavernosus) located in the pelvic floor. This is also the muscle that allows the penis to fill with blood during an erection and supports successful ejaculation. After targeting the pelvic muscle, some men reported fewer occurrences of ED as well as more satisfying results.
According to a study published in Translational Andrology and Urology, aerobic exercises that last at least 40 minutes (and maintained as a routine) have been shown to improve the ill-effects of ED. Aerobic exercise is believed to not only help to eliminate erectile dysfunction but actually improves some of the risk factors for developing ED. Nonetheless, where gym-like exercises may work for some men living with performance issues, they are not guaranteed to work for all men. Plus, many men prefer to get their dose of physical activity by participating in broad array of recreational sports. Based on a man’s age and the sport he chooses, avoiding a sedentary lifestyle and routinely engaging in physical activities is known to reduce risk factors for developing ED.
Shock Wave Therapy for Treating Erectile Dysfunction
“Most ED treatments like the little blue pill only temporarily mask the symptoms,” cautions Dr. Earl Eye at GAINSWave Jacksonville, “unless you address the underlying issues, you wake up the next morning with the same problem.” A recent review and analysis of randomized controlled trials using low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy was reported in a clinical study published in International Journal of Impotence Research as a prudent treatment option. Researchers concluded that their meta-analysis provided scientific results showing low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy to significantly improve erectile function in patients suffering from the most common causes of ED.
Although shock wave therapy is not the answer for treating every case of erectile dysfunction, Dr. Eye is a men’s healthcare physician with multiple medical specialties and over forty years of experience in treating male patients. At his Jacksonville practice, he will always conduct a thorough physical exam to identify the most probable cause of your performance issues and recommend the best treatments based on your specific issues. He is experienced in helping men manage many organic etiologies like vascular issues, painful penile curvature, neurogenic problems, side effects from medical treatments and medications as well as endocrinological issues, such as diabetes. If the little blue pill isn’t working for you, non-invasive treatments using low-intensity shockwave therapy have proven effective in breaking up plaque formation to treat ED.
