Erectile dysfunction (ED) can affect men at any age, seriously impacting your libido and quality of life, and that of your partner. Older men with metabolic health conditions are especially vulnerable to ED. For healthy younger men, ED is often embarrassing, and many men are reluctant to seek erectile dysfunction therapy. But in many cases, ED is caused by a dysfunctional pelvic floor, and can be effectively treated with physical therapy.
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Clinical director & DC RMSK
Dr. Lev Kalika has dedicated his career to finding innovative solutions for treating pain syndromes and movement disorders. He has authored multiple scientific papers on the use of ultrasonography to diagnose and treat patients in real time.
Dr. Kalika has been an active member of the International Society of Medical Shockwave) (ISMST ) since 2007, and has performed over three thousand ESWT procedures. He is a world renowned expert in ultrasound guided dry needling and has published multiple peer-reviewed articles about ultrasound guided procedures. He uses ultrasound guidance to perform dry needling and ESWT for pelvic floor dysfunction. Dr. Kalika has developed his own unique approach to pelvic pain, which is cardinally different from conventional pelvic pain physical therapy.
Dr. Kalika’s expertise makes NYDNRehab the clinic of choice for erectile dysfunction therapy in NYC.
Because blood pressure plays a key role in the ability to get and maintain an erection, traditional approaches to erectile dysfunction often focus on metabolic and circulatory health, and doctors are quick to prescribe pharmaceutical drugs without considering the role of pelvic floor muscle mechanics.
Metabolic issues aside, your deep and superficial pelvic floor muscles play an active role in sustaining your erection and facilitating ejaculation. But pelvic floor muscles can become overly weak or overly taut, affecting your ability to achieve and sustain an erection.
At NYDNRehab, we take a personalized approach to patient care. We understand that erectile dysfunction can have multiple causes, and the condition can vary greatly from one individual to the next. Rather than treating the symptoms of ED with drugs, devices, implants and surgery, we get to the underlying causes of your ED and correct them.
Physical therapy exercises to strengthen or relax the pelvic floor can positively impact your overall reproductive health, and in many cases, retraining the pelvic floor muscles is key to eliminating erectile dysfunction
Inability to get an erection
Inability to sustain an erection
Erection not firm enough for sexual performance
Sexual performance anxiety
Relationship stress
Obesity
Poor nutrition and dehydration
Lack of physical exercise
Poor sleep habits
Smoking
Drinking alcohol
Metabolic disease
Low testosterone
Certain prescription drugs
Weak and/or tight pelvic floor muscles
Because the cause of erectile dysfunction is often multifactorial, accurate diagnosis is key to successful treatment. Diagnosis begins with a detailed health history and clinical exam, to rule out psychological and metabolic factors that can contribute to ED.
We then conduct a thorough physical exam that includes ultrasound imaging of the pelvic region. Because the pelvic bowl houses multiple structures and organs that can interfere with reproductive performance, ultrasound imaging is particularly useful for diagnosing and treating pelvic disorders like erectile dysfunction.
The clinic at NYDNRehab features the most advanced and highest resolution ultrasound equipment available. By imaging the pelvic region in real time, with the patient in motion, we are able to detect structural issues that may contribute to the underlying cause of ED.
Treating erectile dysfunction requires a holistic approach, since multiple factors come into play. Your treatment protocol may include:
Physical therapy to strengthen and align the muscles and joints
Nutrition and lifestyle counseling
Ultrasound-guided pelvic feedback training
Regenerative therapies
Shockwave for ED
Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment option that shows promise for ED sufferers. In one study, 20 men with an average of 3 years of ED were treated with low intensity shock waves in 5 sites around the penile region. The treatment protocol included two treatment sessions per week for 3 weeks, followed by a 3-week interval with no treatment, and a second 3-week treatment.
One month after the treatment protocol, 15 of the 20 study participants reported significant improvement in their ability to achieve and maintain an erection, with significant increases in the duration and rigidity of erections. The beneficial outcome was achieved immediately after therapy. At a 6-month follow up, 10 of the men had retained their results and were able to achieve spontaneous functional erections without additional support.
Encouraged by these positive results, the scientists went on to conduct two subsequent larger studies, with similar positive results. The research team concluded that shockwave for ED significantly improved erectile function and penile hemodynamics, without any negative side effects.
Dr. Kalika is an experienced expert in extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT). Shockwave for ED, also called acoustic wave therapy, helps improve erectile function at the cellular level. When guided by ultrasound imaging, shockwave therapy accurately hits its target, producing optimal outcomes.
For many men, erectile dysfunction is an embarrassing topic that can be difficult to discuss. But successfully treating ED is often a simple matter of improving your overall health and fitness. Drugs and devices only address the symptoms of ED, without getting at the root cause.
Erectile dysfunction therapy helps you improve the tone of your pelvic floor muscles so that the mechanics of getting an erection are not structurally impeded. The pelvic health specialists at NYDNRehab work with you one-on-one, to design an erectile dysfunction therapy plan based on your unique profile. Contact us today, and take charge of your reproductive health without the need for drugs, devices or surgery.