Working Out to Fight Impotence

Pelvic floor exercises counter erectile dysfunction

(HealthDay is the new name for HealthScoutNews.)

FRIDAY, July 11, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- Pelvic floor muscle exercises can help restore erectile function in men, says a British study.

The study by researchers at the University of the West of England in Bristol found men with erectile dysfunction who did pelvic floor exercises had the same overall improvement as men in a large trial of Viagra.

The pelvic floor is made up of layers of muscle and other tissues.

This study included 55 men, average age 59, who had experienced erectile dysfunction for six months or longer. The men were given five weekly sessions of pelvic floor exercises and did daily home exercises. They were assessed at three and six months.

The study found that 40 percent of the men regained normal erectile function, 35 percent had improved function and 25 percent failed to show improvement. The pelvic floor exercises also resulted in dramatic improvement in the 65.5 percent of the men with erectile dysfunction who suffered dribbles of urine after urinating.

The findings will be published in a textbook for health professionals.

For many decades, women have been advised to perform pelvic floor exercises before and after childbirth, hysterectomy and menopause. This study indicates that it's also important for men to maintain pelvic floor muscle tone and function.

More information

Here's where you can learn more about pelvic floor exercises for men.

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