Pelvic floor muscle training for erectile function in men undergoing radical prostatectomy: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.
Zeynep Akdagcik, Halil Çağrı Aybal, Mustafa Karaaslan et al.
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review evaluated the effectiveness of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) on erectile function (EF) in men post-radical prostatectomy, analyzing twelve randomized controlled trials. Results were mixed, with four trials showing significant EF improvements, while others reported no significant differences. Notably, biofeedback-assisted PFMT resulted in a potency rate of 47.1% compared to 12.5%.
Key findings
- Four out of twelve RCTs reported statistically significant benefits of PFMT on EF.
- Biofeedback-assisted PFMT showed a potency rate of 47.1% vs. 12.5%.
- Supervised PFMT initiated at 12 months resulted in higher IIEF-EF scores (11.1 ± 8.8 vs. 9.3 ± 7.1; p = 0.025).
- Between-group differences in IIEF/IIEF-5 scores ranged from -0.97 to +2.18 points.
Why it matters
Understanding the potential benefits of PFMT for erectile function recovery post-radical prostatectomy can guide clinicians in developing comprehensive rehabilitation programs for men facing erectile dysfunction after surgery.
What to keep in mind
Evidence quality was limited by substantial clinical and methodological heterogeneity and risk-of-bias concerns.