Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40098108›Full record

ReviewBasic and clinical andrology2025

Efficacy of extracorporeal shock waves therapy for erectile dysfunction treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Carla Juan-Casas, Raquel Leirós-Rodríguez, Ana González-Castro, Pablo Hernandez-Lucas

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Basic and clinical andrology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Carla Juan-CasasNursing and Physical Therapy Department, University of Leon, Astorga Ave, Ponferrada, 24401, Spain.
Raquel Leirós-RodríguezSALBIS Research Group, Nursing and Physical Therapy Department, University of Leon, Astorga Ave, Ponferrada, 24401, Spain. rleir@unileon.es.
Ana González-CastroNursing and Physical Therapy Department, University of Leon, Astorga Ave, Ponferrada, 24401, Spain.
Pablo Hernandez-LucasFaculty of Physiotherapy, University of Vigo, Campus A Xunqueira, Pontevedra, 36005, Spain.

Funding

Junta de Castilla y León (Spain) LE042G24
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundErectile dysfunction is becoming a public health problem, affecting 22% of men over 40 years of age, where one of the first lines of treatment for this pathology is the use of drugs, so it is necessary to know the effectiveness of new non-invasive alternative therapies that limit the consumption of these substances in the general population. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of extracorporeal shock waves therapy for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. To achieve this, a systematic review was carried out through the databases PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, Cinhal, Medline, and Web of Science; using the search terms, Erectile Dysfunction, Physical Therapy Modalities, Physical Therapy Specialty, Rehabilitation and Shock Wave Therapy.

resultsThe search ended with a total of 15 articles, differentiating between two study groups, those patients suffering from organic erectile dysfunction (n = 12) and those suffering from the same pathology after undergoing radical prostatectomy with nerve sparing (n = 3). The combined analysis showed that the group treated with extracorporeal shock waves therapy had a significant increase in erectile function compared to the controls. The Difference in Means was 2.96 points (95% CI: 1.93 to 4.61; p < 0.001; I

conclusionsExtracorporeal shock waves therapy appears to have a positive effect in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, with these changes being reflected in different variables such as erectile function, erectile efficacy or sexual satisfaction. Its efficacy seems to increase with interventions that include two weekly sessions and with the application at least 6000 pulses in each session.

trial registrationPROSPERO Registration code: CRD42021230001.

Indexed as

Electric stimulation therapyErectile dysfunctionExtracorporeal shock waves therapyGenital diseasesPhysiotherapySexual disordersVasculogenic impotence

Identifiers

PMID40098108
PMCPMC11917091

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.