“Pelvic floor exercises are not necessarily easy to do correctly. The pelvic floor muscles can be difficult to isolate. When done correctly, they are very effective…”.1
Umbrella
What may the Pelvic Floor Exercises Umbrella include?
Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:
- Kegel Exercises
- Kegels
- Pelvic Floor Exercises
- Pelvic Floor Muscle Control
- Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Exercises
- Pelvic Muscle Exercises (PMEs)
- Pelvic Muscle Strengthening Exercises
Pelvic Floor Muscles
What are the pelvic floor muscles?
DotS the definition of the pelvic floor muscles may vary. In Pelvic Floor Muscles: About the Pelvic Floor – Pelvic Floor Muscles In Men and Women [+ Images] the Continence Foundation of Australia’s definition is:
“A woman’s pelvic floor muscles support the bladder, bowel and uterus (womb). The urethra (urine tube), anus (back passage) and vagina all pass through the pelvic floor muscles”.2
Pelvic Floor Exercises
What are pelvic floor exercises?
DotS the definition of pelvic floor exercises may vary. In What Are Pelvic Floor Exercises? the (United Kingdom) NHS’s definition is:
Importance
Why are pelvic floor exercises important?
In Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Exercises: Information the (United States) MedlinePlus’ explain:
“Pelvic floor muscle training exercises can help strengthen the muscles under the uterus, bladder, and bowel (large intestine). They can help both men and women who have problems with urine leakage or bowel control”.4
In Kegel Exercises – A Step By Step Guide: What Are Kegel Exercises? the (United States) National Association for Continence (NAFC) include a diagram and elaborate on why:
“Kegels or kegel exercises (also known as pelvic floor muscle exercises) are one of the best ways to improve and maintain bowel and bladder functions. Kegels can be done by both men and women to increase the strength of your pelvic floor and may help to improve or even eliminate bladder leakage”.5
Identifying the Correct Muscles
How may women identify the correct muscles?
In Women: How Can I Find My Pelvic Floor Muscles? Method 1 – Stopping the Flow Pelvicfloorfirst.org.au explain:
If you can, stop the flow of urine over the toilet for a second or two, then relax and finish emptying without straining. This ‘stop-test’ may help you identify the muscles around the front passage which control the flow of urine. It is not recommended as a regular exercise”.6
How Do I Do
How do I do pelvic floor exercises?
Examples of how to do pelvic floor exercises are included in:
Pelvic Floor Exercises
Tips
What are some tips about performing pelvic floor exercises properly?
In Kegel Exercises – A Step By Step Guide: A Step By Step Guide for Women on How To Do Kegel Exercises the NAFC elaborate on:
- Which muscles do I use for Kegel exercises?…
- How many Kegels a day?…
- Work both your fast twitch and slow twitch muscle fibers…
- Things to watch out for…
- Repeat your exercises 3 times a day…
- Give yourself encouragement…”.7
Physiotherapist or Continence Nurse
Who may provide help with doing pelvic floor exercises correctly?
In Pelvic Floor Exercises Pelvic Floor Exercises [+ Podcast + Video + Image] the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health explain:
If doing the exercises yourself doesn’t help, then you can seek help from a pelvic floor physiotherapist or a continence nurse”.8
On page one in Fact Sheets and Downloads: Fact Sheets – Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises and Bladder Training: Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises the American Urogynecologic Society explain:
“If you are not sure that you are doing the exercises correctly, ask your medical provider at a pelvic exam to check if your squeeze is working the right muscles. Or, ask for a referral to a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation. The physical therapist will also check your back and abdominal strength, your gait and your posture. These all affect how your pelvic muscles work”.9
Health Care Provider
What if I would like to find out if pelvic floor exercises could help me?
If you would like to find out if pelvic floor exercises could help you, it may be in your best interest to choose to talk to your health care provider about this. Together you may clarify your symptoms, discuss your options and if required, agree on who may be the most appropriate health care provider to help you.
In Kegel Exercises – A Step By Step Guide: Signs of Pelvic Floor Strength Improvement the NAFC encourage us to seek help:
“Women and men who have difficulty performing kegel exercises on their own may find biofeedback therapy helpful. With professional instruction from a nurse specialist or pelvic floor therapist, many people experience significant improvement in pelvic floor muscle strength, tone, and function with a good regime”.10
Health Topics A-Z
Where may I find Health Topics related to Pelvic Floor Exercises?
In Health Topics A-Z you may find:
Links
Where may I find Links related to Pelvic Floor Exercises?
Your Country may have Links similar to:
Links
This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.- Are You Ready To Clinch for A Cause? #Pelvic Floor Face
- Bhealth Blog: Your Kegel Exercise Device Options
- Bhealth Blog: Your Kegel Exercise Device Options – Electrical Stimulation: External
- Bhealth Blog: Your Kegel Exercise Device Options – Electrical Stimulation: Vaginal
- Bhealth Blog: Your Kegel Exercise Device Options – What Are Kegel Exercise Devices? Biofeedback Devices
- Bhealth Blog: Your Kegel Exercise Device Options – What Are Kegel Exercise Devices? Kegel Weights [+ Jade Eggs]
- Continence.org.au [Continence Foundation of Australia]
- Current Management of Pelvic Organ Prolapse In Aging Women: EMAS Clinical Guideline [European Menopause and Andropause Society]
- Fact Sheets and Downloads
- Fact Sheets and Downloads: Additional Downloadable Resources – Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises and Bladder Training
- Fact Sheets and Downloads: Additional Downloadable Resources – Talking With Your Doctor
- Fact Sheets and Downloads: Fact Sheets – Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises and Bladder Training
- Glossary
- How To Exercise Without Wetting Yourself
- Kegel Exercises
- Kegel Exercises for Men: Understand the Benefits
- Kegel Exercises – A Step By Step Guide
- Kegel Exercises – A Step By Step Guide for Women on How To Do Kegel Exercises
- Kegel Exercises – Self-Care
- Kegel Exercises: A How-To Guide for Women
- Kegel Exercises: How Do You Exercise Your Pelvic Muscles?
- Kegel Exercises: What Are Kegel Exercises?
- Lifting the Lid on Prolapse
- Menopause
- NAFC’s Review of 3 Popular Kegels Apps [National Association for Continence, United States]
- Nafc.org: Learning Library [National Association for Continence, United States]
- PFD 101: Fact or Fiction
- Pelvic Floor Disorder Awareness [+ Video]
- Pelvic Floor Exercises
- Pelvic Floor Exercises [+ Podcast + Video + Image]
- Pelvic Floor Exercises: How To Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor
- Pelvic Floor Exercises: Pelvic Floor Exercises [+ Video]
- Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Exercises
- Pelvic Floor Muscle Training for Women: How Do I Do Pelvic Floor Muscle Training?
- Pelvic Floor Muscles
- Pelvic Floor Muscles In Women: About the Pelvic Floor [+ Video: Female Pelvic Floor Muscle – 3D Animation]
- Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Featured Video [+ Video: Let’s Talk About Prolapse]
- Pelvic Support Problems
- Pelvicfloorfirst.org.au
- Prolapse
- Prolapse & Bladder Weakness: What Is Prolapse? [+ Image]
- So Many Products To Fit Your Personal Style: Absorbent Products for the Way You Live
- The Pelvic Floor
- Urogenital Atrophy Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
- Video Series 2019 – Physical Therapy In the Treatment of Female Sexual Dysfunction
- Voices for PFD [Pelvic Floor Disorders]
- What Are Pelvic Floor Exercises?
- What Happens When You See A Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist or Endocrinologist?
- Why Physical Therapy Should Be the First Thing You Try When Treating Incontinence
- Women
- Women: Getting the Technique Right
- Women: How Can I Find My Pelvic Floor Muscles?
- Women’s Wellness: Are You Doing Your Kegels?
- Working Your Pelvic Floor
Sources
Where may I find the Sources quoted?
You may find the Sources quoted at:
Sources
- Pelvic Floor Exercises: Pelvic Floor Exercises. Last Updated: 21 December 2020 | Last Reviewed: 01 August 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/bladder-bowel/pelvic-floor-strength Accessed: 11 June 2022
- Pelvic Floor Muscles: About the Pelvic Floor – Pelvic Floor Muscles In Men and Women. Last Updated: 27 May 2022. Last Reviewed: 23 March 2020. Continence Foundation of Australia https://www.continence.org.au/about-continence/continence-health/pelvic-floor Accessed: 11 June 2022
- What Are Pelvic Floor Exercises? Page Last Reviewed: 14 April 2020. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/common-health-questions/womens-health/what-are-pelvic-floor-exercises/#close%22 Accessed: 11 June 2022
- Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Exercises: Information. Review Date: 14 October 2020. MedlinePlus https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003975.htm Accessed: 11 June 2022
- Kegel Exercises – A Step By Step Guide: What Are Kegel Exercises? National Association for Continence https://www.nafc.org/kegel-exercises Accessed: 11 June 2022
- Women: How Can I Find My Pelvic Floor Muscles? Method 1 – Stopping the Flow Pelvicfloorfirst.org.au http://www.pelvicfloorfirst.org.au/pages/working-your-pelvic-floor.html Accessed: 11 June 2022
- Kegel Exercises – A Step By Step Guide: A Step By Step Guide for Women on How To Do Kegel Exercises. National Association for Continence https://www.nafc.org/kegel-exercises Accessed: 11 June 2022
- Pelvic Floor Exercises: Pelvic Floor Exercises. Last Updated: 21 December 2020 | Last Reviewed: 01 August 2018. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/bladder-bowel/pelvic-floor-strength Accessed: 11 June 2022
- Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises and Bladder Training: Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises. 2016. American Urogynecologic Society https://www.voicesforpfd.org/assets/2/6/Bladder_Training.pdf Accessed: 11 June 2022
- Kegel Exercises – A Step By Step Guide: Signs of Pelvic Floor Strength Improvement. National Association for Continence https://www.nafc.org/kegel-exercises Accessed: 11 June 2022