Exercises can play a part in managing Peyronie’s disease, but they won’t straighten a curve on their own. The best-studied approach is penile traction using a device, and even that evidence is limited. Pelvic floor exercises may help erections. Other home stretches and rubbing the plaque have little or no evidence behind them.

This article explains what each approach involves, what the research shows and how to stay safe.

What is Peyronie’s disease?

Peyronie’s disease is a build-up of scar tissue, called a plaque, in the tough lining of the erectile tissue. The plaque doesn’t stretch, so the penis can curve, shorten or narrow during an erection. Some men also have pain or difficulty getting an erection.

It’s more common than many people think. Recent studies put the figure at up to 9% of men, although many never see a doctor about it [1].

Peyronie’s usually has two phases. In the active phase, which often lasts several months, the plaque forms, erections may be painful and the curve can change. In the stable phase, pain usually settles and the curve stops changing [1]. Which phase you’re in affects which treatments make sense.

Can exercise help Peyronie’s disease?

A 2023 Cochrane review looked at non-surgical treatments for Peyronie’s disease. It found little good evidence for most of them, and the trials were mostly small and of low quality [2]. That doesn’t mean nothing helps, but it does mean you should be wary of anyone promising a cure.

Here is what’s known about the exercises most often suggested.

Penile traction therapy

A traction device holds the penis in a gentle, steady stretch for a set time each day. The idea is that slow, sustained tension may remodel the scar tissue over months.

In the Cochrane review, one trial found traction reduced curvature by about 7 degrees compared with no treatment, but the certainty of this result was very low [2]. A wider review of traction studies found possible benefits for length and curvature with few side effects. It also noted that many men struggle to wear the device for long enough [3].

If you’re considering traction, discuss it with a urologist or men’s health clinician first. Devices usually need to be worn for at least a few hours a day for several months. Stop if you notice numbness, skin damage, colour change or increasing pain.

Vacuum erection devices

A vacuum device is a plastic cylinder placed over the penis with a pump that draws blood in to create an erection. It’s mainly a treatment for erectile dysfunction. Some urologists use it in Peyronie’s disease to help with erections or as part of a combined plan, but there’s little good-quality evidence that it reduces curvature. Ask for guidance on how to use one, and don’t keep the constriction ring on for more than 30 minutes.

Manual stretching at home

Gently stretching the penis by hand, sometimes called a “V-stretch”, is widely described online. There are no good trials showing it reduces curvature. If you try it, keep it gentle and never bend the penis against the curve with force, especially while erect or during the painful active phase. Stop if it hurts.

Rubbing or pinching the plaque to “break it down” is also often suggested. There’s no evidence that it works, and pressing hard on an inflamed plaque may make pain worse.

Pelvic floor exercises

Pelvic floor exercises won’t change a curve, but they may help erections. In a randomised trial of men with erectile dysfunction, pelvic floor exercises with biofeedback improved erectile function scores after three months, compared with lifestyle advice alone [4]. This can matter in Peyronie’s disease, as many men also have weaker erections.

To find the right muscles, imagine stopping yourself passing wind and stopping the flow of urine at the same time. You should feel a lift and squeeze around the back passage and the base of the penis.

  1. Tighten those muscles and hold for up to 10 seconds, breathing normally.
  2. Relax fully for 10 seconds.
  3. Repeat up to 10 times.
  4. Then do 10 quick squeezes, relaxing between each.
  5. Aim for three sets a day, lying, sitting and standing.

Don’t practise by repeatedly stopping your urine flow, as this can interfere with emptying your bladder.

General exercise and heart health

Regular aerobic exercise, losing excess weight and stopping smoking improve blood vessel health. A review of trials found that lifestyle changes and treatment of heart risk factors improved erectile function scores [5]. This won’t straighten the penis, but it may help the erection problems that often come with Peyronie’s disease.

Other treatments to discuss with a clinician

Depending on your symptoms and phase, options may include:

  • watchful waiting, if the curve is mild and sex is still possible;
  • injections into the plaque, offered by some urology services, which carry their own risks such as bruising and swelling;
  • low-intensity shockwave therapy, which European guidance says may help pain but isn’t expected to change the curve or the plaque [6];
  • surgery, for a severe, stable curve that makes sex difficult or impossible.

Treatment for any accompanying erectile dysfunction is also important, and can be discussed with your GP or a specialist.

When to get help

Go to A&E straight away if:

  • you hear a snap or pop during sex and the penis becomes swollen and bruised. This could be a penile fracture;
  • an erection lasts longer than 4 hours.

See your GP if you notice a new lump, a curve that is getting worse, pain, or problems with erections. Peyronie’s disease can also affect mood and relationships, and it’s worth talking about this too.

Next steps

At Vale Health Clinic, a Peyronie’s consultation is free and includes a diagnostic ultrasound scan when appropriate. We’ll explain what the scan shows, which phase you seem to be in, and the realistic options, including when a urologist is the right next step. Read more about Peyronie’s disease treatment, or call 01892 543029.

References

  1. Di Maida F, Cito G, Lambertini L, et al. The natural history of Peyronie’s disease. World J Mens Health 2021;39(3):399–405. doi:10.5534/wjmh.200065
  2. Rosenberg JE, Ergun O, Hwang EC, et al. Non-surgical therapies for Peyronie’s disease. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2023;7:CD012206. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD012206.pub2
  3. Valenzuela R, Ziegelmann M, Tokar S, Hillelsohn J. The use of penile traction therapy in the management of Peyronie’s disease: current evidence and future prospects. Ther Adv Urol 2019;11:1756287219838139. doi:10.1177/1756287219838139
  4. Dorey G, Speakman M, Feneley R, et al. Randomised controlled trial of pelvic floor muscle exercises and manometric biofeedback for erectile dysfunction. Br J Gen Pract 2004;54(508):819–825.
  5. Gupta BP, Murad MH, Clifton MM, et al. The effect of lifestyle modification and cardiovascular risk factor reduction on erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Intern Med 2011;171(20):1797–1803. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2011.440
  6. Capogrosso P, Frey A, Jensen CFS, et al. Low-intensity shock wave therapy in sexual medicine: clinical recommendations from the European Society of Sexual Medicine (ESSM). J Sex Med 2019;16(10):1490–1505. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.07.016

This article is general information, not personal medical advice. Please speak to a clinician about your own situation.

This article is general information and isn’t a substitute for advice about your own health. If you’re worried about a symptom, speak to your GP or book an assessment.