PELVIC PHYSIOTHERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF SEXUAL DYSFUNCTIONS IN MALE PATIENTS WITH SPINAL SPINAL INJURY: LITERATURE REVIEW

Abstract

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is damage caused to the segment of the spinal cord, which can be of four types: cervical, thoracic, lumbar and sacral. Through this literature review you can observe the link between the type of injury and different sexual dysfunctions. The study aims to address the role of physiotherapy in the main sexual dysfunctions in men with spinal cord injury. Meticulous research was carried out in the referenced databases and pre-selection of articles, followed by analysis and discussion of the methods presented in the rehabilitation of this population. The article concluded that physiotherapy, through resources such as biofeedback, vacuum therapy, strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles, functional electrical stimulation and low-intensity shock wave treatment, is effective in treating these disorders. It is also evident that the level of the injury has an influence on the sexual dysfunction suffered by the patient, in addition to the scarcity of recent studies that addressed physiotherapy in sexual dysfunctions in male patients with spinal cord injury.