[edit] Explanation
The aim of Kegel exercises is to fortify
muscle tone by strengthening the
pubococcygeus muscles of the
pelvic floor. Kegel is a popular prescribed exercise for
pregnant women to prepare the
pelvic floor for physiological stresses of the later stages of
pregnancy and vaginal
childbirth. Kegel exercises are said to be good for treating
vaginal prolapse[1] and preventing
uterine prolapse[2] in women and for treating
prostate pain and swelling resulting from
benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and
prostatitis in men. Kegel exercises may be beneficial in treating
urinary incontinence in both men and women.
[3] Kegel exercises may also increase sexual gratification.
[edit] Kegel exerciser
A Kegel exerciser
A Kegel exerciser is a
medical device designed to be used by women to exercise the
pubococcygeus muscle (also called the PC muscle). There are three main types: barbells, springs, and rubber bulbs. The barbells (or
vaginal barbell) can be used as a vaginal exerciser or as a vaginal
dildo or
sex toy. Made of smooth, polished solid
stainless steel, it is cylindrical in shape, with a rounded bulge at each end. They typically weigh one pound (454g) and measure approximately 6 3/4 inches (17.1 cm) in length with a diameter of one inch (2.5 cm) at the widest part. Being made of stainless steel, vaginal barbells are nonporous and can be wiped clean with a cloth moistened with mild soap and water. Spring devices are made of plastic, with removable springs to allow progressive resistance. These allow pressing directly against resistance. An advantage of rubber bulb devices is that they provide visual feedback (via a gauge) of how much pressure you are applying.
[edit] Benefits for women
Factors such as
pregnancy,
childbirth, aging, being
overweight, and abdominal surgery such as cesarean section, often result in the weakening of the pelvic muscles. This can be assessed by either digital examination of vaginal pressure or using a Kegel
perineometer. Kegel exercises are useful in regaining pelvic floor muscle strength in such cases.
[edit] Urinary incontinence
The consequences of weakened pelvic floor muscles may include urinary or bowel incontinence, which may be helped by therapeutic strengthening of these muscles. A
meta-analysis of
randomized controlled trials by the
Cochrane Collaboration concluded that "PFMT [Pelvic floor muscle training] be included in first-line conservative management programmes for women with stress, urge, or mixed, urinary incontinence...The treatment effect might be greater in middle aged women (in their 40's and 50's) with stress urinary incontinence alone...".
[4]
[edit] Pelvic prolapse
The exercises are also often used to help prevent
prolapse of pelvic organs. A
meta-analysis of
randomized controlled trials by the
Cochrane Collaboration concluded that "there is some encouragement from a feasibility study that pelvic floor muscle training, delivered by a physiotherapist to symptomatic women in an outpatient setting, may reduce severity of prolapse".
[5]
[edit] Sexual function
It is said that Kegel exercises make the vagina tighter. Also, after
childbirth, practicing pelvic-floor contractions during vaginal sex will allow the woman immediate feedback from her partner, who can tell her whether he or she can feel the muscles tightening. A newly-
postpartum woman—who has yet to return to sexual intercourse—can retrain her pelvic floor muscles to their pre-pregnancy strength and tone by inserting two or three fingers or a
dildo into her vagina and squeezing them with pelvic-floor contractions. Specially-designed barbells and weighted insertable devices are available for this purpose. Women are able to add resistance to the exercise through isometrically gripping a hard object (such as a
Kegel exerciser) or by compressing an object such as foam.
[edit] Benefits for men
Though most commonly used by women, men can also use Kegel exercises. Kegel exercises are employed to strengthen the
pubococcygeal muscle and other muscles of the
pelvic diaphragm. Kegels can help men achieve stronger erections and gain greater control over ejaculation. The objective of this may be similar to that of the exercise in women with weakened pelvic floor: to increase bladder and bowel control and sexual function.
[edit] Incontinence
Regarding postprostatectomy urinary incontinence, a
meta-analysis of
randomized controlled trials by the
Cochrane Collaboration found that "there may be some benefit of offering pelvic floor muscle training with biofeedback early in the postoperative period immediately following removal of the catheter as it may promote an earlier return to continence".
[6]
[edit] Sexual function
Kegel workouts can provide men with stronger erections.
[7] There are said to be significant benefits for the problem of premature ejaculation from having more muscular control of the pelvis.
[8] It is also possible that strengthening the pelvic floor may allow some men to achieve a form of
orgasm without allowing
ejaculation, and thereby perhaps reach multiple "climaxes" during sexual activity.
[9] In men, this exercise lifts up the
testicles, also strengthening the
cremaster muscle, as well as the
anal sphincter, as the anus is the main area contracted when a Kegel is done. This is because the pubococcygeus muscle begins around the anus and runs up to the urinary sphincter.