One of them and a new one at that is shockwave therapy. Some of these erectile dysfunction treatments are also used to treat other conditions and shockwave therapy is one of such. Some of the health complications that it can be used to treat include:
- Kidney conditions
- Cardiovascular conditions
- Pain such as insertion pain, hip pain, golf elbow pain, painful shoulder, heel spur, and calcifications
These are just a few of the conditions that this treatment option can help address. If you are interested in learning about other conditions it can help treat, you can check here.
Considering that it is useful in addressing so many health complications, we cannot discuss every one of them. However, we will focus on an area that concerns a lot of people and that is quite sensitive to them. This is the use of shockwave therapy for treating erectile dysfunction.
Understanding the Cause of Erectile Dysfunction
People with erectile dysfunction should not be too quick to try out treatment options. Rather, they should start by understanding the cause of the problem. The reason is that knowing why ED is a problem in the first place will ensure that the right treatment is engaged. For some people, it is going to require more than one treatment approach.
For example, the solution for some people would be a combination of shockwave therapy and proper dieting. In short, the reason behind the problem needs to be known. This is also because ED (Erectile Dysfunction) can be a side effect of major health issues like heart disease, diabetes, obesity, High B.P, Parkinson’s disease, and several others. So, knowing what is responsible for the problem is of the essence. This will also go a long way in understanding whether shockwave therapy will be effective or should even be considered.
What Shockwave Therapy Is about
There is a branch of medicine that is focused on addressing issues relating to the urinary tract system and male reproductive organs at large. This branch of medicine is known as urology and the experts in this medical field are called urologists.
These medical experts have a more clinical term for this ED treatment option. This term by urologists is known as LiSWT which is the acronym for Low-intensity Shockwave Therapy. These medical professionals are very particular about adding the words “low-intensity” as the sort of shockwave that gets the job done is of low intensity.
The use of this ED treatment option involves the use of a device that has a wand-like shape. The purpose of using this device is to enable increased blood flow to the penile areas. This is important as a low supply of blood to this area will affect the ability of the penis to be firm enough for physical activities. In some cases, the penis would not even be able to achieve firmness at all. Other than ensuring increased blood flow, the low-intensity shockwave caused by using this device will also ensure penile tissues are stimulated.
This is equally important as anything that affects the tissue’s stimulation will also affect the ability to get an erection or one that lasts long. To better understand how tissue stimulation and blood supply to the penile area affect penile functions.
Some Things to Know about Shockwave Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction
This treatment approach for ED is fairly new. The same cannot be said for treating some other health complications or dysfunctions as the case may be.
As a result of this, some people are in the dark as to how it can help and even have reservations. Well, below are some points to help you understand this ED treatment method better:
Radial Wave Therapy Is Not the Same as Low-Intensity Shockwave Therapy
We have heard of a few cases where people underwent radial wave therapy thinking that it was the same as low-intensity shockwave therapy. For the record, they are different. Some of the differences include the following:
Data Proving Ability to Help in Stimulation of Blood Flow
There is yet to be data proving that radial wave therapy can treat erectile dysfunction by stimulating blood flow and helping in the formation of fresh blood vessels. However, the case is different with low-intensity shockwave therapy.
License Required for Administering Treatment
Medical professionals that administer low-intensity shockwave treatment are licensed to administer this treatment. This is not the case with radial wave therapy as it is not based on well-established facts as mentioned above.
Who Should Consider Shockwave Therapy for Treating Erectile Dysfunction?
People who should consider this treatment for ED include the following:
Those who Are Not Getting the Desired Results with Medications
Some medications are known and used for treating erectile dysfunctions. However, there are cases in which these medications do not work or do so much. People who are not getting the desired result using medications for this problem should consider this treatment option.
Those who do not want to Use Medications
Some people with ED may be opposed to using medications to treat this problem for reasons best known to them. Other than personal reasons, this might be because of drug compatibility issues for those using certain medications. Whatever the case may be, low-intensity shockwave therapy can be used as an alternative to ED medications.
Those who do Not want Very Invasive Treatment Options
We have established a few times here that low-intensity shockwave therapy is not the only way ED can be treated. However, some treatment options are invasive as they require surgery.
For people that do not want these treatment options, low-intensity shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction can be a better option. This is because it is one of the least invasive but effective ways of tackling this sexual dysfunction.
On a Final Note
Low-intensity shockwave therapy is not a new treatment for several health complications. However, it is in the field of urology, but it has been discovered to be remarkably effective.
This is especially in treating sexual-related dysfunctions such as Erectile Dysfunction. Those considering it are advised to be certain of the cause of their erectile dysfunction and have the right professional perform the treatment if needed.