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To Kegel? or Not to Kegel?
Let's discuss common questions about Kegels
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How to Kegel?
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Who Should Kegel?
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When should I NOT Kegel? Can I do too many?
This video contains the answers these to questions from
Susan Winograd, Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist
What is a Kegel?
A Kegel is a therapeutic strengthening exercise that targets Pelvic Floor Muscles. The best way to perform a Kegel is to
Sit with good posture
Pretend you are trying to avoid passing gas
and then:
Women:
Pretend you are tightening your vagina around a tampon
Men:
Pretend you are trying to stop a stream of urine
From here, try to lift your perineum towards your navel.
When Should I Kegel?
(& When Should I NOT Kegel?)
First of all, not everyone should Kegel.
A Kegel strengthening exercise for the pelvic floor muscle group is like any other therapeutic exercise for any other muscle group. In these cases, it is best to let an expert assess the muscle group BEFORE starting a Kegel regimen. So many times, we see patients who have started doing Kegels at home when they should not have. Instead of helping they exacerbated their original problem and/or created new problems. A Kegel is not Generic!
The pelvic floor is 3 layers of muscles composed of fast twitch & slow twitch muscles.
Before you do a Kegel, you need to have a Pelvic Floor Specialist assess the strength of each layer. A Pelvic Floor Therapist will assure you are strengthening the right muscle group in the right way. Our therapists will help you understand weather you are activating slow or fast twitch muscles and determine if you are getting the needed "lift" portion of the exercise.
How to exercise through all layers of pelvic floor
Question: When Should I see a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist?
Answer: Before Starting a Kegel Regimen
Many women present with symptoms of
bowel & bladder Pain
Incomplete Evacuation
Many people are doing a Kegel program when that is the opposite of what they need.
Meet the Pelvic Floor Physical Therapists
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