Kegel exercise

Kegel exercise
Kegel exercises diagram
Pronunciation	Kegel: /ˈkeɪɡəl, kiː-/
Other names	pelvic muscles exercise
[edit on Wikidata]

Kegel exercise, also known as pelvic floor exercise, involves repeatedly contracting and relaxing the muscles that form part of the pelvic floor, now sometimes colloquially referred to as the "Kegel muscles". The exercise can be performed many times a day, for several minutes at a time but takes one to three months to begin to have an effect.^[1]

Kegel exercises aim to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.

The American gynecologist Arnold Kegel first published a description of such exercises in 1948.^{[citation needed]}

Mechanism of action

Kegel exercises aim to improve

Factors such as pregnancy, childbirth, aging, and being overweight often weaken the pelvic muscles.^[14] 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.^[15]

The symptoms of prolapse and its severity can be decreased with pelvic floor exercises.^[16][11] Effectiveness can be improved with feedback on how to do the exercises.^[17]

Men

Kegel exercises can train the perineal muscles by increasing the oxygen supply and the strength of those muscles.^[18] The names of the perineal muscles are: ischiocavernosus (erection), bulbocavernosus (ejaculation), external sphincter of the anus, striated urethral sphincter, transverse perineal, levator of the prostate, and puborectalis.^[19]

Premature ejaculation is defined as when male ejaculation occurs after less than one minute of penetration.^[20] The perineal muscles are involved in ejaculation when they are involuntarily contracted.^[18] The ischiocavernosus muscle is responsible for male erection, and the bulbocavernosus muscle is responsible for ejaculation. By actively contracting the perineal muscles with Kegel exercises regularly, strength and control of these muscles increase, possibly aiding in the avoidance of premature ejaculation.^[18][21]

Urinary incontinence

Pelvic floor exercises (muscle training) can be included in conservative treatment approaches for women with urinary incontinence.^[22] There is tentative evidence that biofeedback may give added benefit when used with pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT).^[23] There is no clear evidence that teaching pelvic floor exercises alters the risk of stress urinary incontinence in men that develop this condition post prostatectomy.^[24]

In pregnant women, antenatal PFMT probably helps prevent urinary continence during pregnancy and up to six months after giving birth but for pregnant women who already have incontinence, it is not clear if antenatal PFMT helps to reduce symptoms.^[19]

Fecal incontinence

In pregnancy, it is not yet clear if antenatal PFMT helps to prevent or treat fecal incontinence.^[19]

Pelvic toning devices

Some devices, marketed to women, are for exercising the pelvic floor muscles and to improve the muscle tone of the

As of 2013 there was no evidence that doing pelvic floor exercise with weights worked better than doing Kegel exercises without weights; there is greater risk with weights, because a foreign object is introduced into the vagina.^[25][6]

• 
  A Kegel exerciser
• 
  Jade eggs (or Yoni eggs) have been marketed for use in vaginal weightlifting.
• 
  Ben wa balls

Marketing

During the latter part of the 20th century, a number of medical and pseudo-medical devices were marketed to consumers as improving sexual performance or orgasms, increasing "energy", "balancing hormones", and as having other health or lifestyle benefits. There is no evidence for any of these claims, and many of them are pseudoscience.^[26][27]

See also

• Pelvic floor physical therapy
• Taoist sexual practices
• Vacuum exercise
• Vaginal steaming

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kegel exercise.

• Mayo Clinic – Kegel Exercises for Men
• Kegel Exercises: Treating Male Urinary Incontinence