Kegel exercises assist in strengthening the pelvic muscles. Pelvis muscles include the pubococcygues muscle, which support the bowel and bladder. The pelvic muscles can weaken over time because of age, weight or illness, among other health reasons. Kegel exercises contract and relax the pelvic muscles to strengthen the bodily functions associated with it. The exercise consists of contracting the pelvic muscles for three to ten seconds and relaxing them for the same amount of time, and repeating the process ten times in both men and women. These exercises will help strengthen and support the urethra and bladder in men, as well as support sexual functioning.
Urinary Incontinence
The pelvic muscles help support the bladder and control urine flow. Weak pelvic muscles can cause urinary incontinence, which is the loss of bladder control. Urinary incontinence include stress incontinence, overflow incontinence, urge incontinence, functional incontinence, and mixed incontinence. Urinary incontinence problems differ by how often urinary leakage occurs and how serious the leakage is.
Kegel exercises strengthen the pelvic muscles and urinary sphincter to control urine in the bladder. Mayo Clinic states that kegel exercises are especially effective for stress and urge incontinence and act as a form of bladder training. Strengthening the muscles that hold the urine by doing kegel exercises is an effective and natural way to control incontinence.
Colon Health
Kegel exercises increase bowel functions and control of the rectum. The pelvic floor muscle surrounds the urethra and rectum, and assist in the functions of the colon. Similar to urinary incontinence, bowel incontinence is the loss of bowel control. Kegel exercises assist men in controlling bowel movements by strengthening the rectum through the pelvic muscles. The exercises help increase circulation to the rectum and can reduce hemorrhoids, states Mayo Clinic.
Sexual Health
The pelvic muscles play an important role in a male sexual functioning. Controlling the pelvic muscles assist in improving erections and in increasing blood flow to the penis. Kegel exercises are an effective treatment for premature ejaculation and strengthening the pelvis muscles, according to the University of Hawaii. The pubococcygues muscle of the pelvis, support blood flow in the penis and strengthening the muscles in ejaculatory control. Increased blood flow and strengthening of the pelvic muscles assist in more intense orgasms and increasing stamina in men.
