Effects of Aerobic Exercise in the Management of Erectile Dysfunction: A Meta Analysis Study on Randomized Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND: Penile erection is a hemodynamic process involving increased arterial inflow and restricted venous outflow, coordinated with corpus cavernosum and penile arterial smooth muscle relaxation. Any problem in this mechanism results in Erectile Dysfunction and its etiology is generally multifactorial. This study is aimed at determining the objective outcome of aerobic training in the management of Erectile Dysfunction of arterogenic origin using Meta analysis. METHODS: Relevant publications were searched up to November 2010 in the MEDLINE (PubMed) database. The citation lists of randomized controlled trials on the effect of aerobic training and Erectile Dysfunction management using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) as treatment outcome measure. Studies on different operative techniques on the effects of aerobic training for men with Erectile Dysfunction due to arterogenic Erecile Dysfunction were selected. Data on participants’ characteristics, study quality, population, intervention, treatment outcome were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: There were 5 randomized controlled studies using the International Index of Erectile Function as measure of treatment outcome. A total of 385 subjects were involved in 5 studies; results indicated significant effect of aerobic training on Erecile Dysfunction (t=5.856, p= .000) at p< 0.05. CONCLUSION: Subjects with arterogenic Erectile Dysfunction might benefit from aerobic training. More randomized controlled studies in this area are warranted KEYWORDS: Erectile dysfunction; Impotence; Exercise; Index of erectile function Ethiop J Health Sci. Vol. 21, No. 3 November 2011