Sexual and Reproductive Health

Perineal Muscle Training

Perineal muscle training (or pelvic-floor exercises) has been used with some success in men with erectile dysfunction but without SCI.

Author Year; Country
Score
Research Design
Total Sample Size		 Methods Outcome
Courtois et al. 2001; Canada
Pre-post
Level 4
N=10		 Population: 10 men, age range 25-52 yrs.
Treatment: Perineal training combined with
biofeedback and home exercises.
Outcome Measures: Tumescence (penile
circumference).
  1. Perineal training resulted in significant differences in tumescence.
  2. After treatments were stopped there was a decrease in penile circumference that was statistically significant from the treatment increase.

Discussion

Courtois et al. (2001; n=10) is worth mentioning since it focuses on the relatively successful use of perineal muscle training exercises to improve penile rigidity in those men with some capacity for voluntary pelvic floor contraction. The approach of maximizing the physiological potential before introducing pharmacological or mechanical intervention is an approach often forgotten in rehabilitation (Elliott, 2003).

Conclusion

There is level 4 evidence (from 1 pre-post study: Courtois et al. 2001) suggesting that perineal training may result in improvement in erectile function in men with SCI who have some voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction.

Perineal training may enhance erectile function in men with SCI who have some voluntary pelvic floor muscle contraction.

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