Urological Health Penis Health Peyronie’s Disease Exercises for Peyronie’s Disease Stretches and other techniques for correcting a curved penis By Molly Burford Molly Burford LinkedIn Molly Burford is a mental health advocate and wellness book author with almost 10 years of experience in digital media. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 23, 2023 Medically reviewed by Jamin Brahmbhatt, MD Medically reviewed by Jamin Brahmbhatt, MD Facebook LinkedIn Jamin Brahmbhatt, MD, is board-certified in urology. He is an assistant professor at UCF College of Medicine and chief of surgery at Orlando Health South Lake Hospital. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Benefits of Exercises Massage Stretching Exercises Penile Traction Therapy (PTT) Vacuum Erection Devices Other Options Peyronie’s disease (PD) is a condition that causes an abnormal curvature of the penis. The curvature can be associated with pain in the penis. It can also be the cause of erectile dysfunction (ED). Peyronie's disease exercises are sometimes used as an at-home treatment. There's little evidence that these exercises are completely effective, and they can cause problems if done incorrectly. However, if you work with your healthcare provider, you may be able to use these exercises successfully and reduce the curvature of your penis. There are more invasive ways to treat PD including injections that dissolve scar tissue from the penis. PD can also often self-correct. An early diagnosis of Peyronie’s disease is imperative for the most effective treatment. This article will discuss the efficacy of penis exercises for PD treatment and the specifics of each. John Fedele / Getty Images Can Exercises Help a Curved Penis? Some exercises have been found to help with Peyronie’s disease. Research shows that penile stretching in the form of penile traction therapy (PTT) helps with penile lengthening and corrects curvature in the acute phase of PD. A gentle stretching exercise of the sheath may help break down scar tissue and ease curvature issues as well. It has been estimated that 6% to 10% of men between ages 40 and 70 have Peyronie’s disease. Those with the disorder move through two phases of PD: the acute phase and the chronic phase. The acute phase is when plaque forms and curvature begins. This usually lasts five to seven months, but can also last as long as 18 months in rare cases. The chronic phase usually follows and is marked by a stabilization of plaque formation and curvature. Your treatment will depend on which phase your Peyronie’s disease is in. It is absolutely vital that you do the exercises correctly to avoid further damage to the penis. Talk to your doctor or urologist to ensure you are using devices and performing exercises the right way at home. Why Men Have Pain During Sexual Intercourse Massage Massage could be a way to treat Peyronie’s disease. However, research that supports this as an effective method to treat PD is inconclusive. Massaging the penis incorrectly can also lead to further damage and worsening of Peyronie’s disease. Talk to your doctor before attempting any massages as a form of treatment for Peyronie’s disease. Stretching Exercises Milking, also known as jelqing, is a penis stretching exercise in which the penis is massaged to create micro-tears. Once the healing process of these micro-tears begins, the idea is that the penis can appear longer and thicker. Some research has shown that stretching exercises may offer some help in correcting the curvature of your penis. However, the studies have been small and more research is needed to determine if stretching exercises are truly safe or effective. Generally, it is recommended to err on the side of caution and skip this technique until there is more conclusive research. Penile Traction Therapy (PTT) Penile traction therapy (PTT) is an exercise that requires wearing a device on the penis. It is intended for daily use for a designated period of time. The idea behind PTT is that it can gently apply pressure to help straighten the penis or reduce curvature. It should be noted that there is limited data available on the efficacy of PTT in treating Peyronie’s disease. It’s unclear whether it helps straighten the penis and reverses curvature. However, a growing body of research points to it as a possible treatment for achieving these goals. One study showed that penile traction therapy was likely helpful in lengthening the penis. However, this only applies to the acute phase. PTT’s role in the chronic phase of PD remains unclear. It should also be noted that this study looked at PTT when it’s administered before penile prosthesis insertion and after surgical correction of PD. Vacuum Erection Devices A vacuum erection device (VED) is another potential treatment option for Peyronie’s disease. Like PTT, there is limited data on its effectiveness, but there is growing evidence that supports it as a viable option. A VED, also known as a penis pump, is a device in which the penis is placed in a vacuum tube. The VED then will stretch and pull the penis using suction. The device is used for men with erectile dysfunction and can also be used as a treatment for PD. As far as the research goes, a 2020 study showed that a vacuum erection device can help reduce penis curvature associated with Peyronie’s disease. The study had 53 participants, and 23 of those men did not use a VED. All 20 of the participants who used VED traction therapy showed a significant improvement in curvature. While the study was small, its findings show that VEDs may be a promising treatment option. Other Treatment Options For severe cases of Peyronie’s disease, you may need to look for treatments beyond at-home exercises. Penile modeling is one common option. A procedure performed in your healthcare provider's office, penile modeling involves manually pulling on a flaccid penis to lengthen and straighten it. Modeling may be done in conjunction with collagenase injections. It can also take place after the surgical implantation of an inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP). What to Know About Penile Implant Surgery Collagenase Injections and Penile Modeling With collagenase injections, a urologist administers injections directly into the plaque if it is palpable during an exam. Studies have shown that this can help alleviate PD when used together with penile modeling in a doctor’s office and at home. There is a chance that complications may occur. For instance, urethral injury is possible during penile modeling. However, there are ways to avoid this complication, so penile modeling is overall a safe and effective way to treat PD. Collagenase Injections Collagenase is an enzyme produced by Clostridium histolyticum, a type of bacteria. Collagenase injections are used to treat bent fingers and other orthopedic curvatures because the enzyme, once injected breaks down collagen. This weakens the structure that has been causing the curve so the penis can straighten. Penile Modeling Following IPP Implantation IPP implantation involves a surgical procedure in which a prosthetic device is inserted inside the penis. This course of action is recommended for people in the chronic stages of PD who have ED as well. This surgical intervention can correct penile curvature and sexual dysfunction. While it is possible for prosthetic implantation alone to resolve curvature issues, most people will need additional straightening procedures during the operation, such as penile modeling. Once the IPP is implanted, the doctor will bend the penis in the opposite direction of the curvature. This maneuver can be repeated until they remedy the curvature. Bruising and pain in the penis are common with penile modeling. Talk to a Healthcare Provider While PD can sometimes clear up on its own, many of those who struggle with this condition will require treatment. Everyone who deals with PD will have a unique situation, and it is best to consult your doctor about the treatment that’s best for you. What phase your Peyronie’s disease is in will also guide what treatments will potentially be most effective in reducing curvature and other symptoms. Exercises have the potential to further harm the penis, so it is best to perform them under the guidance of your healthcare provider. 10 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Mass General Advances in Motion. Advances in treatment for Peyronie’s disease. Cowper MG, Burkett CB, Le TV, Scherzer N, Hellstrom WJG. Penile stretching as a treatment for Peyronie’s disease: a review. Sex Med Rev. 2019;7(3):508-515. doi:10.1016/j.sxmr.2018.11.002 Cleveland Clinic. Peyronie’s disease: what it is, treatment & causes. Urology Care Foundation. Peyronie’s disease: symptoms, diagnosis & treatment. Avant RA, Ziegelmann M, Nehra A, Alom M, Kohler T, Trost L. Penile traction therapy and vacuum erection devices in Peyronie’s disease. Sex Med Rev. 2019;7(2):338-348. doi:10.1016/j.sxmr.2018.02.005 MacDonald LP, Armstrong ML, Lehmann KJ, Acker MR, Langille GM. Outcome analysis of patients with Peyronie’s disease who elect for vacuum erection device therapy. Can Urol Assoc J. 2020;14(9):E428-E431. doi:10.5489/cuaj.6205 El-Khatib FM, Xu P, Huynh LM, Osman MM, Jiang P, Yafi FA. Manual modeling for the correction of residual curvature in Peyronie’s disease. J Vis Surg. Honig SC. Intralesional collagenase in the treatment of Peyronie’s disease. Ther Adv Urol. 2014;6(2):47-53. doi:10.1177/1756287213509849 Chung E, Solomon M, DeYoung L, Brock GB. Comparison between AMS 700TM CX and ColoplastTM Titan inflatable penile prosthesis for Peyronie’s disease treatment and remodeling: clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. J Sex Med. Lyons MD, Carson CC, Coward RM. Special considerations for placement of an inflatable penile prosthesis for the patient with Peyronie’s disease: techniques and patient preference. Med Devices (Auckl). 2015 Jul 27;8:331-340. doi:10.2147/MDER.S57252 By Molly Burford Molly Burford is a mental health advocate and wellness book author with almost 10 years of experience in digital media. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit