Topics: Health, Sex and Relationships, Sport, Fitness
According to a personal trainer, there are some exercises you should probably avoid if you don't want to negatively impact your ability to have erections.
Now, of course no one really wants to have to deal with any problems down there, and if you're the owner of a penis, you would probably rather avoid erectile dysfunction (ED) altogether.
As a reminder, ED occurs when a man is unable to get an erection, or keep an erection for long enough to have sex. It's often caused by stress, tiredness, drinking too much alcohol or as a side effect of medication, or even certain conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, anxiety, or hormone problems.
However, one personal trainer has revealed that the exercises you do in the gym could also be playing a role.
Advert
Speaking to SoloFun, Toby King explained: "A lot of men assume ED is caused by stress or ageing, but in some cases, it's mechanical. The problem is gym-related issues build up slowly, so people don't associate the two.
"We are told to work out, we are told to strengthen our pelvic floor, but in some men, too much tension in muscles around the pelvic floor area can cause erectile dysfunction without realising it.
"The muscles around your pelvic floor play a role in erections and arousal, and if they are constantly tight or overloaded, then they can restrict the blood flow and compress nerves that are essential for healthy sexual function."
King explained that squats, deadlifts and ab-focused routines can contribute to the problem, adding: "I'm not saying avoid these exercises as they are great for overall body composition and health, but if you have found that you are having problems in the bedroom, and you go to the gym, then it's worth checking if your muscles are tight and if they could be causing the issues.
"A lot of men are walking around constantly braced. They tighten during lifts, they are often tight all day too, and over time this creates an overactive pelvic floor which can interfere with erections and even cause pain."
King explained that constantly tensing the pelvic floor means the muscles aren't able to rest. This can be made worse by poor technique and heavy weights, which can add to the pressure.
"If your form is off and you're not breathing correctly, then that pressure has to go somewhere, and often it ends up in the pelvic floor," King said.
It's important not to quit training, but King said assessing your routine is key. You may also need to switch up certain exercises and seek help from a pelvic floor physiotherapist if necessary.
"If you have ongoing issues, a pelvic floor physiotherapist can assess what is happening, and they will be able to help you restore normal function below," King explained.
The more you know!
