“Pelvic floor exercises strengthen the muscles around your bladder, bottom, and vagina or penis”.¹

Umbrella
What may the Pelvic Floor Exercises Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

Pelvic Floor Muscles

What are pelvic floor muscles?

DotS the definition of pelvic floor muscles may vary. In Pelvic Floor Muscles: What Are Pelvic Floor Muscles? [+ Images] the Continence Foundation of Australia’s definition is:

“The pelvic floor muscles span the bottom of the pelvis and support the pelvic organs (bladder and bowel, and uterus (womb) in women)”.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 (National Health Service) definition is:

Why are pelvic floor exercises important?

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 What Are Kegel Exercises? the (United States) National Association for Continence (NAFC) include a diagram and elaborate on why:

“Pelvic Floor Muscle Exercises, also known as Kegels or Kegel exercises, are one of the best ways to improve and maintain bowel and bladder functions. Kegel exercises can be done by men or women, and can increase the strength of your pelvic floor and may improve or even eliminate bladder leakage”.⁵

Muscles Strengthened

What muscles can pelvic floor exercises help strengthen?

In Working Your Pelvic Floor [+ Diagrams] Pelvicfloorfirst.org.au elaborate on:

“Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles will help you to actively support your bladder and bowel. This improves bladder and bowel control and reduce the likelihood of accidentally leaking from your bladder or bowel. Like other muscles in your body, your pelvic floor muscles will become stronger with a regular exercise program. This is important for both men and women”.⁶

How Do You Do

How do you do pelvic floor exercises?

In Pelvic Floor Muscle Training Exercises: Information the MedlinePlus explain:

“A pelvic floor muscle training exercise is like pretending that you have to urinate, and then holding it. You relax and tighten the muscles that control urine flow. It is important to find the right muscles to tighten”.⁷

In What Are Kegel Exercises? How To Do Kegel Exercises – A Step By Step Guide the NAFC elaborate on:

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:

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”.¹⁰

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 What Are Kegel Exercises? Signs of Pelvic Floor Strength Improvement the NAFC encourage us to seek help:

“Women who have difficulty performing pelvic floor muscle exercises on their own may find biofeedback therapy helpful. With professional instruction from a nurse specialist or physical therapist, many women witness significant improvement in pelvic floor muscle strength”.¹¹

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Topic Last Updated: 29 July 2020 – Topic Last Reviewed: 29 July 2020