Study Shows Low Intensity Shockwave Therapy Improves Erectile Dysfunction
Title of Study: Case Series of Weekly Low Intensity ShockWave Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction
Authors: Daniel A Shoskes MD, Nic Tadros MD, Brandon Mooney PA
Low Intensity Shock Wave (LiSW) therapy has emerged as a promising treatment for vasculogenic erectile dysfunction (ED), which affects many men worldwide. LiSW therapy uses shockwaves to promote angiogenesis, release growth factors, and recruit cells to improve blood flow to the penis. Several studies have already shown positive results, but the standard protocol of twice-weekly treatments for three weeks can be inconvenient for patients.
To address this issue, researchers conducted a study to determine the efficacy and safety of LiSW therapy using a modified protocol of four weekly treatments. The study involved eight men with a diagnosis of ED for at least six months. The patients received painless treatments with the Urogold 100 machine using the soft wide focused applicator probe. The energy flux was 0.13 mJ/mm2, and frequency was 4 Hz, yielding a biologic energy density of 1560. The Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) score was used to measure ED severity at baseline and one month after the four weekly treatments.
The results showed that LiSW therapy with a once-a-week protocol produced a success rate similar to previously published twice-weekly protocols. Overall, the SHIM score improved significantly from 11.0±3.6 to 17.2±5.2 (p=0.01). Five out of the eight patients (62.5%) showed significant improvement in erections sufficient for intercourse, and two of those patients required a PDE5 inhibitor for optimal erections.
The study suggests that LiSW therapy is a safe and effective treatment for ED, with a modified protocol that is more convenient for patients. However, the inclusion criteria should focus on men with an arteriogenic etiology, and longer-term follow-up is needed to determine the durability of the therapy.