Abstract

EDUCATION OF SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION IN PARAPLEGIC MALES

Zeinab Hassan, Sawssan Daher, Khodor Haidar Hassan* and Hassane Kheir Eddine

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Spinal cord injury is a traumatic, life changing event for the injured person. It changes motor, sensory and autonomic functions, which affects many areas of an individual’s life including his sexual activity. The common causes of spinal cord injury are: war violence, fall, vehicle crashes and sports injury. Hypothesis: The role of physical therapists beside the medical management in rising up the level of patient’s awareness related to their sexual life after the injury. Methods: This is a double-blind study. It dealt with 24 paraplegic males, age ranges between 18-50 years old distribute between several rehabilitation centers in Lebanon. Two questionnaires prepared; one for patients and the second was for Lebanese expert physical therapists. Results: The common cause of spinal cord injury in Lebanon is war violence (46%). The common sexual impairment is ejaculation (42%). Patients experience orgasm after the injury but weaker than before by (75%). 92% of the patients have sexual desire, where 79% of them have 1 or 2 attempts/week. 48% of the physical therapists believe in their sexual educational role. Conclusion: The study focused on three main sexual impairments: ejaculation (42%), positioning (17%) and erection (8%). in addition to the physical therapy and medical management. The study gives advises for spasticity maintenance. It suggests different positioning that is suitable for each case. It also presents the available devices and their benefits. This study directs the patient to the physical therapy and the medical management, which can improve his sexual activity.

Keywords: Sexual Dysfunction, physical therapy, paraplegic males, medical management, sexual impairments.