| Dr. Arnold Kegel was the first to develop special exercises to exercise the pelvic floor muscles, in particular pubococcygeus muscles (PC muscles). These muscles are involved in urination, bowel movements, sexual intercourse and, in women, during labor.
The pelvic floor muscles can be adversely affected by pregnancy, childbirth, excessive weight gain, aging, a chronic cough, a genetic predisposition to weak connective tissue. In males, debilitating of the pelvic floor muscles can also cause premature ejaculation. The debilitated pelvic floor muscles can bring on a drop in sexual pleasure in both males and females.
Hence, Kegel exercises are recommended for a variety of purposes. This type of exercises is considered the first point of a management programme to handle stress or urinary and fecal incontinence. The pc muscles involved by this form of exercise include the anal and urinary sphincter. In men, the exercises can "lift" the testicles. At times the results are noticeable in several weeks after the regular exercising, but some men notice their testicles lifting in no time at all.
As well as any muscle of the human body, the pc muscles, if not involved or "worked out" on a regular basis, debilitate and eventually atrophy. Vaginal atrophy is a particular medical condition for post-menopausal females.
In women, lack of muscle tone in the pelvic area can cause vaginal or uterine prolapse, differently called fallen uterus.
Kegel exercises can preclude these conditions and can aid in treating them, as well.
To insure you know how to contract your pelvic floor muscles, try to stop the urine stream when you are going to the washroom. If you succeed, you have got the basic move. Or try another technique: place a finger inside your vagina and try to squeeze the muscles. You should be able to feel your vagina become tighter and your pelvic floor move upwards. After that stop contracting the pc muscles and feel your pelvic floor move downwards to the initial position.
Stopping the urine stream regularly is unhealthy. Doing Kegel exercises with a full bladder or when urinating can actually weaken the muscles. It can also trigger incomplete urination, hence putting a woman at risk of a urinary tract infection (UTI).
Kegel exercises are to be performed regularly to achieve the best results. A set of Kegel exercises for men and women can be discovered at kegel-exercise.org. Note it is better to preclude a medical condition than to treat it. |
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