Pelvic floor exercises are coordinated muscle contractions used to strengthen the muscles between your pelvic bones. They are designed to reverse the effects of urinary incontinence in men and women and prevent the abnormal descent, or prolapse, of abdominal organs in women. In some cases, individuals learning pelvic floor exercises can increase their understanding with the help of a teaching technique called biofeedback.
Kegel Exercises
Pelvic floor exercises are commonly referred to as Kegel exercises. To perform Kegels, you consciously contract the same muscles that you would use to cut off your urine flow during urination. Typically, individuals who will benefit from Kegels perform limited repetitions of these contractions in the morning, at midday and at night. When trying to perform their exercises, some individuals have difficulty distinguishing contraction of their pelvic floor muscles from contraction of the muscles in their thighs, buttocks or abdomen. Biofeedback training helps them overcome these problems and use the proper muscles.
Biofeedback Basics
Biofeedback uses electrical measurements of your body functions to give you a better idea of how the various parts of your body work. Once you have a better understanding of your body's processes, you can then use the information from biofeedback to train your body to perform specific actions or motions. Common body processes used to provide biofeedback information include your blood pressure, breathing, skin temperature and muscle tension, as well as the electrical activity of your brain and the relative ability of your skin to conduct electricity. Doctors attach devices called electrodes to your body in order to get this information, then show it to you on a video monitor.
Biofeedback for Kegel Exercises
To gather biofeedback information for your Kegel exercises, your doctor may attach electrodes to the skin near your anus or vagina. Alternatively, he may insert a specialized sensor probe inside your vagina or anus. The information from the probe or electrodes will then be interpreted as electrical patterns and relayed to a monitor that you can view. Using the patterns on the monitor as a guide, you can work on accurately contracting the muscles of your pelvic floor. In some cases, your doctor may also send a weak electrical current to your pelvic floor. When you contract your muscles properly, this current will generate a mild buzzing sensation.
Considerations
Biofeedback is only used to temporarily guide your exercise efforts. Once you can consistently contract your pelvic floor muscles, you can discontinue your biofeedback sessions and perform your Kegel exercises on your own. When performed properly and in the recommended amounts, Kegels typically help strengthen your pelvic floor muscles in anywhere from four to 12 weeks. In some cases, they may dramatically improve your muscle weakness-related symptoms. In other cases, Kegels may only keep your muscle function from degrading further. Consult your doctor for more information on pelvic floor exercises and biofeedback.
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