Peyronies disease (PD) is an increasingly prevalent condition characterized by painful penile curvature that leads to shortening and eventual erectile dysfunction. Treatment options can often be limited; however, various clinical trials have demonstrated that extracorporeal shock wave treatment (ESWT) improves both pain levels and penile curvature for those suffering with PD.
Acoustic shock waves have been found to promote blood flow, angiogenesis and remodeling of fibrous scar tissue; thus making them an excellent option for Peyronies disease patients.
ESWT
ESWT is a non-invasive shock wave therapy technique used to stimulate tissue regeneration, increase blood flow and alleviate pain. Acoustic shockwave energy penetrates deep into tissues to trigger natural healing responses in the body such as collagen production. Furthermore, shock wave energy promotes formation of new blood vessels, improving oxygen and nutrients delivery to treated areas.
During a shockwave procedure, patients lie on a treatment table while a device emits high energy sound waves akin to thunderclaps that can be felt as tapping sensations on the skin. Once these shockwaves reach underlying tissues they initiate biological responses that help restore tendon regeneration; for instance studies on normal human fibroblasts have demonstrated this fact by activating cells, increasing proliferation rates, and decreasing profibrotic mediator expression levels.
ESWT treatment results are long-lasting. Not only is it useful in relieving acute phases of Peyronie’s disease, but studies have also demonstrated its efficacy for improving erections among chronically affected individuals. Though no treatments exist that restore penile curvature to pre-disease states, that does not detract from ESWT’s effectiveness as an option.
As well as improving erections, this treatment has also been found to relieve pain and decrease plaque size in the penis. Furthermore, it stimulates tissue growth and regeneration leading to enhanced functional outcomes in those living with Parkinson’s Disease (PD). While its exact mechanism remains unknown, shockwaves have been hypothesized to cause mechanical disruption of calcific deposits within the body through mechanical disruption of shockwaves.
ESWT stands out among other treatments for Parkinson’s Disease in that its sessions take place outside the patient’s hospital setting and are noninvasive – no surgery needed or complications experienced! Furthermore, ESWT can serve as a safe and effective option for patients looking for alternatives to medication or surgery.
ESWT comes in two varieties, radial and focused shockwave therapy. Radial shockwaves disperse throughout tissue while focused shockwaves deliver higher energy directly into treatment sites – this makes focused ESWT more suitable for Peyronie’s disease than its radial counterpart.
Though ESWT has shown promising results, further research must be conducted in order to determine its optimal application and treatment parameters in order to provide patients with effective therapy for Peyronie’s disease (PD). Without question, however, ESWT plays an integral part in managing this condition and improving quality of life for its sufferers. If you would like more information about this option please reach out and schedule a consultation session with one of our physicians – we hope to hear from you soon!
