Association of Exercise with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

Abstract

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a very common urological disease in older men, and it typically leads to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). The exact cause of BPH is not known. Physical activity is increasingly recognized as an important modifiable lifestyle factor and several studies have demonstrated an inverse relationship of exercise with development of BPH/LUTS. In this review paper, the evidence for the impact of exercise on the occurrence and development of BPH/LUTS in the context of the other known risk factors for BPH will be discussed. METHODS: A systematic search on PubMed and RISS was performed to obtain previous studies examining the relationship between exercise and BPH/LUTS. RESULTS: Studies have demonstrated that physical activity/exercise ranging from light housework to sports are inversely associated with the development of BPH/LUTS. Several mechanisms for this association have been proposed, including sympathetic tone, hormonal changes, inflammation, and autophagy. There are some points to be implemented regarding the inverse relationship between exercise and development of BPH: Prevention is likely to be more effective than treatment of BPH/LUTS through exercise, and it is more effective to exercise at a young age than at an old age. The effects of exercise on preventing BPH/LUTS are dosage-dependent, such as exercise intensity and volume. CONCLUSIONS: It is concluded that there is a protective role for exercise in reducing the risk of developing BPH/LUTS. However, it is still necessary to obtain the precise mechanisms for the relationship between exercise and BPH/LUTS in the future.