HEALTH INSIGHTS

Kegel Exercises

December 31, 2017

Kegel Exercises

Kegel exercises don’t need special clothing or equipment. They’re easy to learn and simple to do. And if you do them right, no one can tell you’re doing them, so they can be done almost anywhere. Your healthcare provider, nurse, or physical therapist can answer any questions you have and help you get started.

Front view of bladder in pelvis surrounded by pelvic bones. Pelvic floor muscles support bladder and urethra..

A weak pelvic floor

The pelvic floor muscles may weaken due to aging, pregnancy and vaginal childbirth, injury, surgery, chronic cough, or lack of exercise. If the pelvic floor is weak, your bladder and other pelvic organs may sag out of place. The urethra may also open too easily and allow urine to leak out. Kegel exercises can help you strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. Then they can better support the pelvic organs and control urine flow.

How Kegel exercises are done

Try each of the Kegel exercises described below. When you’re doing them, try not to move your leg, buttock, or stomach muscles:

  • Contract as if you were stopping your urine stream. But do it when you’re not urinating.

  • Tighten your rectum as if trying not to pass gas. Contract your anus, but don’t move your buttocks.

  • You may place a finger or 2 in the vagina and squeeze your finger with your vagina to learn which muscles to tighten.

Try to hold each Kegel for a slow count to 5. You probably won’t be able to hold them for that long at first. But keep practicing. It will get easier as your pelvic floor gets stronger. Eventually, special weights that you place in your vagina may be recommended to help make your Kegels even more effective. Visit your healthcare provider if you have difficulties doing Kegel exercises.

Helpful hints

Here are some tips to follow:

  • Do your Kegels as often as you can. The more you do them, the faster you’ll feel the results.

  • Pick an activity you do often as a reminder. For instance, do your Kegels every time you sit down.

  • Tighten your pelvic floor before you sneeze, get up from a chair, cough, laugh, or lift. This protects your pelvic floor from injury and can help prevent urine leakage.

Updated:  

December 31, 2017

Sources:  

AAFP Conditions A-Z. American Academy of Family Physicians. 2015.

Reviewed By:  

Burd, Irina, MD, PhD,Godsey, Cynthia, MSN, APRN, MSHE, FNP-BC