DIABETOLOGY / RESEARCH PAPER
Effect of physical exercise combined with shockwave
therapy on erectile dysfunction in diabetic patients
| 1 | Department of Physical Therapy for Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University,
Cairo, Egypt |
| 2 | Department of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences,
Najran University, Najran, KSA, Egypt |
| 3 | Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo,
Egypt |
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Amr B. Salama
Department of Physical Therapy For Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt Department of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, Najran, KSA, Egypt
Department of Physical Therapy For Surgery, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt Department of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Najran University, Najran, KSA, Egypt
Submission date: 2021-02-14
Final revision date: 2021-03-29
Acceptance date: 2021-04-09
Online publication date: 2021-04-10
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
The aim of the study was to evaluate whether physical exercise (PE) in addition to extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is more effective in improving erectile function as compared to ESWT and PE alone in diabetic patients with erectile dysfunction (ED).
Material and methods:
Forty-five patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and ED were divided into three equal groups: group 1 (ESWT group) received treatment with ESWT twice weekly for 6 weeks, comprising 3000 shockwaves at an energy density of 0.25 mJ/mm2 and an emission frequency of 6 Hz; group 2 (PE group) received treatment with physical exercise three times per week for 12 weeks; and group 3 (combined group) was treated using physical exercise in the form of the program followed by the PE group, plus ESWT in the form of the same parameter and protocol as that of the ESWT group. Treatment outcomes were measured by International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) score variations recorded at 4 and 12 weeks after the end of treatment with respect to the baseline.
Results:
The mean IIEF-5 scores significantly improved in all groups at the 4-week follow-up without intergroup differences. At the 12-week follow-up, the mean IIEF-5 improvement and durability were significantly higher among patients in combined groups.
Conclusions:
The combined approach of ESWT and PE provides significant advantages in erectile dysfunction improvement and durability as compared to ESWT or PE alone in diabetic patients with ED.
The aim of the study was to evaluate whether physical exercise (PE) in addition to extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is more effective in improving erectile function as compared to ESWT and PE alone in diabetic patients with erectile dysfunction (ED).
Material and methods:
Forty-five patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and ED were divided into three equal groups: group 1 (ESWT group) received treatment with ESWT twice weekly for 6 weeks, comprising 3000 shockwaves at an energy density of 0.25 mJ/mm2 and an emission frequency of 6 Hz; group 2 (PE group) received treatment with physical exercise three times per week for 12 weeks; and group 3 (combined group) was treated using physical exercise in the form of the program followed by the PE group, plus ESWT in the form of the same parameter and protocol as that of the ESWT group. Treatment outcomes were measured by International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) score variations recorded at 4 and 12 weeks after the end of treatment with respect to the baseline.
Results:
The mean IIEF-5 scores significantly improved in all groups at the 4-week follow-up without intergroup differences. At the 12-week follow-up, the mean IIEF-5 improvement and durability were significantly higher among patients in combined groups.
Conclusions:
The combined approach of ESWT and PE provides significant advantages in erectile dysfunction improvement and durability as compared to ESWT or PE alone in diabetic patients with ED.
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