What is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy is a safe, non-invasive procedure for client suffering from many tendon, muscle and joint disorders. It applies a series of acoustic wave pulsations directly to the site of injury/ dysfunction through the client’s skin via a gel medium, and does not require the use of medication or analgesics. The shockwave therapy stimulates the body’s natural self-healing process and is therefore particularly effective when used to treat chronic conditions, conditions that continue to re-occur or conditions that have not been successfully managed through traditional treatment methods.
Erectile Dysfunction Overview
ED is a frustrating condition that experts say affects some 50 percent of men between the ages of 40 and 70.
Male sexual arousal is a complex process that involves the brain, hormones, emotions, nerves, muscles and blood vessels. Erectile dysfunction can result from a problem with any of these. Likewise, stress and mental health concerns can cause or worsen erectile dysfunction.
Sometimes a combination of physical and psychological issues causes erectile dysfunction. For instance, a minor physical condition that slows your sexual response might cause anxiety about maintaining an erection. The resulting anxiety can lead to or worsen erectile dysfunction.
How Does Shockwave Therapy Help With Erectile Dysfunction?
Treatment consists of noninvasive low-intensity sound waves that pass through erectile tissue, restoring natural erectile function by clearing plaque out of blood vessels and encouraging the growth of new blood vessels. The shockwave treatment offers a cure in that it reverses the problems that cause the dysfunction in the first place — the most desired win-win outcome coveted by men with ED.
To administer shockwave therapy, a clinician applies a probe to the penis, which is coated in a special gel. Different areas of the penis are usually targeted. Treatment sessions may last for fifteen to twenty minutes. Men usually don’t need anesthesia or experience pain, although they might have a tingling sensation in the treated area.
There are several types of treatments available to men with ED, including pills, vacuum erection devices, and penile injections. However, these therapies are typically conducted on an as-needed basis and may work for only one sexual encounter at a time. Shockwave therapy is different, as it targets the erectile mechanism so that men are more likely to have erections on their own.
Clinical trials of shockwave therapy for ED have had encouraging results. The process has been well tolerated by patients. Many men have found that their erections have improved and they are able to have intercourse. Men with more severe ED may still need to take ED medication in addition to having shockwave therapy.