Exercises that focus on strengthening the muscles at the base of the penis, known as the pelvic floor, appear to be a useful treatment for erection difficulties, according to a small study.

“This study suggests that pelvic floor exercises should be considered as a first-line approach for men seeking long-term resolution of their Erectile dysfunction,” lead author Dr. Grace Dorey, from The Somerset Nuffield Hospital in Taunton, UK, and colleagues note.

The findings, which appear in the medical journal BJU International, are based on a study of 55 men with erection difficulties who were randomly selected to receive lifestyle advice, such as quitting smoking, with or without training in pelvic floor exercises. After three months, subjects in the non-exercise group who showed no response were treated with the exercise intervention.

The exercise training was provided by a physiotherapist who instructed the men to tighten their pelvic floor muscles as if they were trying to prevent gas passing. In addition, emphasis was placed on the ability to retract the penis and lift the scrotum using pelvic muscles.

After three months of training, the men were encouraged to continue the exercises at home for three additional months.

At that point, erectile function, based on a standard scoring system, was significantly better in the pelvic exercise group than in comparison subjects. The men who crossed over to the intervention displayed a significant improvement in function three months later.

At six months, evaluation by an independent assessor showed that 40 percent of the men had normal erectile function, 35.5 percent had improved function, and 24.5 percent saw no improvement.

Besides being a first-line treatment for Erectile dysfunction, pelvic floor exercises could serve as an additional aid for men receiving other types of therapy, the researchers suggest.

SOURCE: BJU International, September 2005.