Do Peyronie’s Disease Exercises Really Work? What the Research Says?

If you search for “Peyronie’s disease exercises”, you’ll come across forums consisting of men who claim that stretching exercises, penile weights, and traction devices work. You’ll also meet urologists who sigh at about half of these suggestions. This dual response is based on the same flawed body of evidence: while some mechanical treatments for Peyronie’s disease (PD) are actually supported by clinical trials, others are simply an application of gym culture logic to a medical issue.

The following is what the data really shows.

What Peyronie’s disease is, briefly?

PD consists of scar tissue or a plaque that develops in the tunica albuginea, the fibrous layer surrounding the erectile tissues of the penis. This plaque does not stretch as healthy tissue does, and so when the penis is filled with blood, it bends towards the scarred side. It generally begins with an acute, often painful stage during which the curve is still forming, then progresses to a chronic stage after the plaque has become stabilized. This usually occurs between 12 and 18 months.

The principle on which exercises for Peyronie’s disease are based is that if a constant tension is applied to the scar tissue over a period of time, it will cause the cells to reorganize the collagen in a straighter and more even manner. The genuine issue is not whether or not tension can, in theory, cause scar tissue to change shape, but whether the studies that have been carried out specifically on Peyronie’s disease support this.

Penile traction therapy: the strongest evidence for Peyronie’s disease exercises

Traction devices fasten onto the penis and exert a constant lengthwise tension for lengthy periods every day. In fact, this is the only mechanical intervention that has real trial data in support of it.

A review published in the journal Cureus in 2025 integrated data from 15 major studies involving more than 1,000 patients and reported clinically significant decreases in curvature, restoration of penile length, and improvements in erectile function with the use of traction therapy, with only minor side effects. But another systematic review and meta-analysis in 2023, published in Translational Andrology and Urology, was more cautious with its wording. However, it reached a similar conclusion, stating that traction devices result in a statistically significant reduction in curvature, but do not have a significant effect on penile length or erectile function.

The Sexual Medicine Society of North America has given a figure for this: the majority of studies show an average improvement in curvature of about 33%, together with gains in length and a higher rate of successful intercourse, and there are no adverse effects. However, that does not count as a cure, and the results are not immediate. The treatment requires 30 to 90 minutes each day for about three months, and the SMSNA is direct in stating that if a patient cannot commit to using it daily, then the therapy is not worth starting.

The Canadian Urological Association gives penile traction a Grade C recommendation and lists it as a reasonable option to mention in the AUA’s Core Curriculum.

Must Read : What Causes Peyronie’s Disease?

Manual stretching: the DIY version, weaker evidence

Manual modelling, which involves physically stretching the penis by hand in the direction opposite to the curve, is a low-cost Peyronie’s disease exercise option as an alternative to using a traction device. According to clinical guidelines from men’s health practices, protocols combine a mild stretch with a bending exercise and are performed in short daily sessions, with curvature correction ranging from 17 to 21% when dedicated traction devices are used.

The gap is that the device can apply constant tension for an hour at a time, while your hand gets tired after just a few minutes. The biological principle is the same, only the dose is smaller. And it is this dose that mechanotransduction studies keep coming back to.

The AUA has not specifically backed manual stretching. A review in Sexual Medicine relating to do-it-yourself methods of penile stretching, such as the old penile weights and neck-ring techniques, clearly states that there are at present no recommendations regarding penile stretching, the AUA saying that mechanical treatments need further study before they can be generally accepted. Although traction therapy has since been included in international guidelines, the 2019 warning about the wider category of mechanical, self-performed stretching still holds true for unsupervised manual methods.

Where exercises fit versus other treatments

The 2015 guideline issued by the AUA, which is still the standard that most urologists refer to, does not regard mechanical stretching as being on a par with the treatments it recommends. Instead, it gives stronger advice in the case of stable pelvic floor curvature between 30 and 90 degrees with intact erectile function regarding intralesional injection of collagenase clostridium histolyticum; for men who have adequate rigidity, tunical plication is recommended; and for men who also have erectile dysfunction, a penile prosthesis is suggested.

Traction therapy is usually employed as a complement to injections or before and after surgery in order to maintain length, not as a stand-alone treatment for considerable curvature. It is also more effective in the early stages since many of the underlying studies showed that better results were achieved when traction was started during the acute, still-progressing phase of the disease rather than after the plaque has fully calcified.

Bottom line

Traction therapy may be a useful choice for some men who have Peyronie’s disease, but it does require months of regular daily use, and the outcomes can differ greatly from one person to another. At Urogen ED Barrie, we adopt a more thorough method by using Wave Therapy, a non-invasive treatment meant to enhance blood flow to the penis, assist with tissue healing, and help improve sexual function. Each patient receives a detailed evaluation so that the most suitable treatment plan can be developed based on the severity and stage of their condition. Instead of depending only on exercises carried out at home, our experienced team offers care that is guided by clinical expertise in order to improve both penile health and quality of life. If you’re worried about Peyronie’s disease or penile curvature, the best first move is to book a consultation at Urogen ED Barrie so that you can get a better understanding of your options and find a treatment plan that is suited to your individual needs.

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About the Author

Mike Wood

Mike began his lifelong passion to help increase health and performance with a Kinesiology degree from Laurentian University in 1988. For most of his career he was in electronic manufacturing, but he always remained true to his physiology educational roots. While working in the corporate world, he trained and worked as an Emergency Medical Responder. He also spent several years teaching First Aid and CPR in both full and part-time roles.

Mike's introduction to UrogenED's Pulse Acoustic Wave technology happened at the end of 2023 when he was treated to alleviate his Peyronie's Disease. In early 2024 his entrepreneurial spirit was then married with his positive treatment outcome from UrogenED and he opened the Whitby Clinic. Towards the end of 2024 Mike was given the opportunity to open the Barrie UrogenED Clinic to complement the success story that began in Whitby. It is Mike's greatest pleasure to hear the success stories of clients from both clinics.

Mike is dedicating his career to Men's Health concerns not only limited to ED. A self-diagnosed fitness and sports junkie, Mike can be found running the roads around his house and exercising in the gym. During his downtime you will find him on the golf links in the summer or snowboarding with his family in the winter.