Acoustic Wave Therapy for erectile dysfunction is a relatively new treatment and is gaining popularity for it’s ability to treat and reverse erectile dysfunction. More and more men are hearing about it and we are frequently asked what is it and how does it work to reverse erectile dysfunction.
To understand how Acoustic Wave Therapy can reverse erectile dysfunction, we first need to understand what causes it. The most common type of erectile dysfunction is vasculogenic erectile dysfunction. The term vasculogenic means the problem is in the blood vessels. Obtaining an erection is dependent on blood vessels in the penis filling with blood. This is what causes it to be firm enough for intercourse. As you can imagine, if the blood vessels aren’t functioning well, this leads to a softer erection or if it goes on long enough, it leads to the complete inability to achieve an erection. As we age the health of our blood vessels can decline. They become stiffer and less flexible which doesn’t allow them to fill with blood as effectively. High blood pressure causes damage to blood vessels over time. Plaque can build up, further limiting the amount of blood that can enter as well. This problem can go on silently for years in blood vessels throughout the body and it just so happens that one of the first outward manifestations is a softer erection. It will also result in fewer morning erections. Waking up with an erection most mornings is a good indicator of erectile health. If you find that many mornings you do not wake up with an erection, this is could be an early warning sign of ED and it can be a warning sign of heart disease. Now that we understand the problem, we can talk about the solution. Enter Acoustic Wave Therapy! Acoustic Wave Therapy (sometimes called Pressure Wave Therapy or Shockwave Therapy) sends acoustic waves (or energy waves) into the tissues to stimulate a powerful healing response from the body. These energy waves help break up plaque and blockages and restore the health of the blood vessels. It causes the body to begin a healing response that brings blood cells to the area to begin the work of healing and restoring the tissues to optimal function. Acoustic Wave Therapy has even been shown to help grow new blood vessels by releasing growth factors in the treatment area. Growth factors are naturally occurring substances in the body that stimulate cell growth and healing. This is exactly what is needed to restore full and natural erectile function. Acoustic Wave Therapy sessions at Stronglife Physiotherapy don’t take long, only about 20 minutes. In that time thousands of acoustic waves are delivered to targeted areas that will restore blood flow. Numbing cream is provided to make the treatment comfortable. Some patients will notice an immediate boost in erectile and sexual function after the first visit. For others it will take more sessions before they start to see the benefit. For mild to moderate cases 6 sessions spread out over 3 weeks is all it takes to restore a natural and fulfilling sex life! Are you interested in learning more about how Acoustic Wave Therapy can help? Schedule a free office consultation with Dr. Ludlow by clicking here.
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Erectile Dysfunction (ED for short, previously called impotence) is an extremely common men’s health condition. You may be surprised to know that ED effects about 50% of men over the age of 40! Unfortunately the numbers just go up from there. 60% of men in their 60’s and 70% of men in their 70’s will be effected. This is an important topic for men to understand so they know what they are up against and what they can do!
What is erectile dysfunction? The basic definition is this: the inability to get or keep an erection long enough for satisfactory sexual performance. This includes a range of different levels of function. In it’s early stages ED just means your erection isn’t as firm as you’d like it to be or it doesn’t last as long as you would prefer but you are still able to have sex. This is the best stage to seek erectile dysfunction treatment because if you don’t find a solution, it only gets more difficult the longer you wait. On the other end of the spectrum is the complete inability to have an erection. At this point there is no erection and there is no ability to have sex, although orgasm can still be possible from stimulation. The cause of erectile dysfunction can be vascular, neurologic, psychological or hormonal. Past the age of 40, vascular ED is the most common cause, meaning not enough blood is able to get to the penis for proper function. There is a simple 5 part questionnaire that is commonly used to gauge severity of erectile dysfunction in men. It is called the International Index of Erectile Function or (IIEF-5) and it’s the same one that many doctors use to grade a person’s erectile function. This can help you understand how mild or severe your ED is without having and embarrassing conversation with the doctor. Below you will find the questions and ratings. Over the past 6 months: 1. How do you rate your confidence that you could get and keep and erection? (1 very low)(2 low)(3moderate)(4 high)(5 very high) 2. When you had erections with sexual stimulation, how often were your erections hard enough for penetration? (1 almost never/never)(2 a few times)(3 about half the time)(4 most times)(5 Almost always/always) 3. During sexual intercourse, how often were you able to maintain your erection after you had penetrated your partner? (1 almost never/never)(2 a few times)(3 sometimes or about half the time)(4 Most times)(5 almost always or always) 4. During sexual intercourse, how difficult was it to maintain your erection to completion of intercourse? (1 Extremely difficult)(2 very difficult)(3 difficult)(4 slightly difficult)(5 not difficult) 5. When you attempted sexual intercourse, how often was it satisfactory for you? (1 almost never/never)(2 a few times)(3 sometimes or about half the time)(4 most times)(5 almost always or always) If you score 22-25 on this test then congratulations! You don’t have ED! A score of 17-21 is mild ED. 12-16 means you have mild-moderate ED. A score of 8-11 is moderate ED and a score of 1-7 means severe ED. Now that you know where you stand it is important to understand that you have options including one very exciting new treatment called Acoustic Wave Therapy. Acoustic wave therapy has only been available for a short time in the United States but is quickly gaining popularity because it can completely reverse erectile dysfunction in a high percentage of men! It is the only erectile dysfunction treatment that makes this claim. It is the treatment of choice when is the problem is related to a lack of blood flow. If you interested in finding out if you are a good candidate for acoustic wave therapy, you can click here to schedule a free phone consultation or here to schedule a free in person consultation! If you smoke or vape you may be wondering if your habit contributes to erectile dysfunction. Smoking has been around for a long time and much is known about how it impacts the body. Vaping is the new kid on the block, so we are only beginning to understand how it effect the body. While there has not been enough time for long term observation and research, we do know that it shares the same key ingredient: nicotine.
By now we know a lot about the effects of smoking and the research is clear that it negatively impacts ED. In fact, smoking is one of the leading risk factors for developing erectile dysfunction. With smoking there is an increased risk of a condition called atherosclerosis, which is a hardening if the arteries. This hardening of the arteries reduces blood flow to the penis which can eventually make it impossible to achieve an erection. ED typically effects older men but smoking can lead to ED even in young otherwise healthy men. E cigarette use or vaping carries some but not all of the same risks as traditional smoking. So you may think you’re dodging the ED bullet by choosing to vape instead of smoke. As it turns out, this is not the case. One of the main reasons why smoking causes ED is due to the nicotine. Nicotine causes the tissues and vessels in the penis to contact, which restricts the flow of blood reducing erection quality. In fact, a 2012 study compared the sexual health of smokers and those who recently quit smoking by using a nicotine patch. The benefits of quitting didn’t really show up until they stopped using the nicotine patch. So as long as there is nicotine inside the body, there will likely be a decrease in erectile function. Fortunately there are options to restore erectile function! The first step is to eliminate the nicotine, so no smoking, vaping or patches. This alone should improve erectile function, though it may take days or weeks for the nicotine to leave your body (hang in there, it’s worth it!). For long term users there may have been more damage to the vessels and tissues of the penis, so erectile function may not return on its own. For these individuals, Pressure Wave Therapy (ESWT, EPAT, Acoustic Wave) is a proven way to restore erectile function. It rejuvenates the tissues and restores blood vessel function in the penis. It does this by sending acoustic or pressure waves into the tissues to stimulate a healing response. Studies show that pressure wave therapy improves blood flow and even stimulates neovascularization, or the growth of new blood vessels. It is considered the only permanent solution to ED. Pressure wave therapy for ED treatment is available at Stronglife Physiotherapy, so if you live in the Provo Orem Utah or surrounding areas come in for a free consultation to see if pressure wave is a solution for you. Since Viagra and other PDE5 inhibitors became available in the 90’s they have helped millions of men with erectile dysfunction. It has been, without a doubt, a fantastic medication that restores sexual function in those suffering from ED but it is not without its down sides.
PDE5 inhibitors have a host of side effects including: headaches, stomach pain, painful erections, facial flushing, congestion, nausea, diarrhea, color blindness, blurred vision, low blood pressure, dizziness, chest pain, indigestion, back pain and others. Most of these side effects are not serious but for many men they are significant enough that PDE5 inhibitors just aren’t an option. However, many ED sufferers will just put up with it as an unpleasant but necessary evil that has become a part of their intimate time with the woman they love. Fortunately, there is technology that provides a better way! Another problem with PDE5 inhibitors is that they aren’t an option if you have certain health conditions. Men who take nitrates cannot take PDE5 inhibitors because it can cause dangerously low blood pressure and could lead to death. We are now starting to see some negative health consequences associated with the use of these drugs. The most recent of which is an increased risk of malignant melanoma which is a serious and potentially fatal form of skin cancer. The increased risk appears to be small but can be significant especially in those who already have an elevated risk. Another potential problem with this class of drugs is the cost. A months supply of Viagra can set you back hundreds of dollars each month. This is a price many are willing to pay to alleviate their ED but unfortunately puts the drug out of reach for many others. Fortunately it is no longer required to take a pill to enjoy normal erectile function! There is now a very exciting option for ED sufferers in the Provo Orem Utah area! Pressure Wave Therapy (also known as shockwave therapy, ESWT, EPAT or acoustic wave) is a technology that uses acoustic waves to improve the function of blood vessels and nerves in the penis. It has even been shown to stimulate the growth of new blood vessels which means improved erection quality and natural function. This is the only treatment option that can reverse erectile dysfunction! This is something that Viagra and other PDE5 inhibitors will never be able to accomplish no matter how long you take them. Another benefit of pressure wave therapy is that those with severe ED who don’t respond to medication for ED will often be able to use these medications after treatment and with continued pressure wave treatment, may be restored to complete, natural erectile function! So if you suffer from ED and live in Utah, please consider coming in to our convenient Orem location for a free consultation to see if pressure wave is right for you! |
AuthorDr. AJ Ludlow, DPT ArchivesCategories |