What does a whole-body approach to treating erectile dysfunction (ED) look like? This is the question that many of our patients have when coming to see a chiropractor for the first time to treat erectile dysfunction. Many are feeling discouraged because the only options being offered to them are medications and invasive surgeries. They desire a way to restore function and vitality without the need to rely on “crutches” just to be able to enjoy natural, fulfilling sex lives. They want to feel like themselves again.

Yes, a chiropractor can help with ED. In fact, there are many different ways that chiropractors help men with ED to restore function and vitality. The list includes:

  • Spinal adjustments.
  • Soft-tissue therapies.
  • Exercises.
  • Stretches.

All of these treatments have one very important end goal in common. They all help to restore blood flow throughout the body for better circulation. This can be so important if erectile issues are linked with restricted blood flow. Addressing restrictions can also help with heart health, mood, cognitive function, flexibility, and energy levels.

Manual and instrument-guided therapies can be very effective for treating erectile dysfunction in some men. However, the options don’t end with traditional chiropractic methods for balancing the body. Men are increasingly turning to shockwave therapy to treat erectile dysfunction. First, don’t let the name make you apprehensive. There aren’t actually any “shocks” involved in shockwave therapy. In fact, this is a painless, gentle, and noninvasive procedure that’s done right in our office. This treatment is so gentle and easy that many of our patients actually book their appointments on their lunch breaks. The gentle pulses that you’ll feel during treatment are triggering improved blood flow and “tissue remodeling” within the penis.

Shockwave therapy has the potential to “improve” and “restore” erectile function in men without the need for additional pharmacotherapy. It also creates results without adverse side effects. What’s more, there’s no need to constantly “manage” ED symptoms through the use of medications or medical devices. In fact, researchers have actually referred to shockwave therapy as a “revolutionary treatment” for erectile dysfunction in published studies.

Should You Consider Shockwave Therapy to Treat ED?

Shockwave therapy is something to consider if you’re serious about overcoming erectile dysfunction by treating the root cause of the issue. While shockwave therapy offers many of the same benefits as other methods we employ at our office for restoring proper blood flow, it simply goes deeper into the cellular level to create faster, stronger results for many men. Of course, you probably have many questions about how shockwave therapy can help to treat erectile dysfunction. Let’s get all of the big questions that are surely on your mind out of the way!

Shockwave Therapy: Can It Treat Erectile Dysfunction?

Let’s start with an overview of shockwave therapy. While this is considered a cutting-edge treatment, shockwave therapy has actually been used for decades to treat musculoskeletal and soft-tissue injuries. It was popularized by professional athletes seeking a non-invasive treatment to help them recover quickly to get back in the game.

While shockwave therapy is helping many men with erectile dysfunction, this is not exclusively an “ED” treatment. Shockwave therapy is used to treat a wide variety of injuries and conditions. The list includes:

  • Achilles tendonitis.
  • Plantar fasciitis.
  • Heel spurs.
  • Tennis elbow.
  • Golfer’s elbow.
  • Frozen shoulder.
  • Torn rotator cuffs.
  • Shin splints.
  • Bursitis.
  • Knee pain/patellar tendonitis.
  • Neck pain.
  • Spinal pain.
  • Muscle pain.

Shockwave treatment uses an instrument that applies low-energy acoustic wave pulsations at the site of pain or injury. While the process is painless, the waves create a very minor degree of “trauma” that quickly activates cell activity. The affected area often “comes to life” immediately with a flurry of blood flow. This instant boost in circulation gets the wheels for healing spinning. In fact, many patients see results from shockwave therapy almost immediately. However, shockwave therapy also offers long-term benefits due to the fact that it triggers regenerative cellular activity. This can be extremely important if your ED is caused by an injury related to surgery, medical treatments or trauma. Patients suffering from erectile dysfunction stemming from Peyronie’s disease may benefit from this treatment’s ability to heal injuries through tissue regeneration.

What does the research say about shockwave therapy and erectile dysfunction? A study published in 2013 lays out several benefits of using shockwave therapy for treating ED. Researchers involved in the study confirmed that shockwave therapy generates what they called significant clinical improvement of erectile function. The researchers also noted a significant increase in blood flow that contributed to better penile function. However, this study also revealed that shockwave therapy appears to help men with erectile dysfunction beyond just creating optimal conditions for blood flow and circulation.

Researchers studying the impact of shockwave therapy treatments on men with ED concluded that shockwave therapy potentially possesses “unprecedented qualities” that can rehabilitate erectile tissue. This is such a contrast to the types of treatments that have been available to men in the mainstream medical community for the past 25 years. The idea that ED can be healed at the source by actually creating the right environment for boosted circulation and tissue healing is a stark contrast to the burden of needing to manage ED through medications. Unfortunately, temporary solutions like medications don’t necessarily help men to feel like “themselves” again. What’s more, the underlying problems of blood restriction and poor circulation that are caused by untreated injuries contribute to feelings of lethargy, lack of desire, and overall poor health.

What to Expect When Using Shockwave Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction

Many patients are surprised to discover just how uneventful a shockwave appointment actually is! Shockwave therapy is considered an easy, painless treatment that doesn’t require downtime. In fact, you can jump right back into life after leaving our clinic following your shockwave treatments. This is a noninvasive treatment that does not require any incisions or injections. Each 5-100MPa pulse lasts for approximately 10 milliseconds. While it’s possible that you’ll feel some slight sensations, pain isn’t generally a side effect of shockwave therapy. Minor side effects like redness, bruising, and tingling generally clear up within a few hours.

Here at Denver Chiropractic, we find that it’s so important to create personalized protocols for each of our clients. That’s why we’ll start with a health assessment that looks at your age, lifestyle, personal health history, and history with ED. This will help us to determine if shockwave therapy is an appropriate choice for you. It’s important to say that there aren’t necessarily limitations on who can use shockwave therapy due to the fact that this is such a gentle, well-tolerated therapy that has FDA approval. However, we can use your health assessment to help you address any underlying health, fitness, or lifestyle issues that could be making you more susceptible to ED. For instance, many men are unaware that certain health conditions, medications, and lifestyle factors can actually increase their odds of experiencing erectile dysfunction. What’s more, factors like obesity, smoking, and depression can greatly increase a man’s odds of developing ED.

A personal assessment also helps us to determine the proper course of treatment using shockwave therapy. This can also be a time to help you consider if an underlying medical condition, psychological component or medication could be contributing to your erectile issues. Men who attempt self-treatment options at home don’t get the benefit of looking at their erectile dysfunction from a holistic perspective under the guidance of a medical professional. This robs them of the ability to treat ED from the source instead of relying on short-lived “tricks” and “hacks” for performance. What’s more, many men who finally get appropriate treatment for erectile dysfunction find that the treatments that help to cure ED also leave them with better overall health and vitality because they were previously operating from a place of depletion.

In clinical trials, most patients see optimal results using a plan that involves treatments twice a week for three weeks. A break of three weeks is often given before resuming another round of treatments twice a week for three more weeks. Most patients can expect the benefits of shockwave therapy for ED to last for a full year. It’s also possible that some patients may not need to repeat treatments.

Can You Use Shockwave Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction If You’re Already Taking ED Pills?

Many men who are already using popular ED medications like sildenafil (Viagra) and tadalafil (Cialis) seek out shockwave therapy because they aren’t getting the full results they want. Generally, there are no conflicts for doing shockwave therapy while taking ED medications. However, it’s so important to share the full list of any medications you’re taking during your consultation to ensure your safety.

Make an Appointment for Shockwave Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction in Denver

Dr. Trent Artichoker and the Denver Chiropractic team are pleased to be able to offer this innovative treatment at our clinic in Denver. We are the only clinic in Denver to use the specialized Swiss EMS Dolorclast® shockwave therapy machine. Let’s explore the whole-body connection to your ED! Reach out to Denver Chiropractic for your consultation today!