Kegel Exercise

What are Kegel Exercises?

Kegel exercises help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and control urinary incontinence. The pelvic floor muscles support the bladder, uterus, rectum, and small intestine.

Why do Pelvic Floor Muscles weaken?

The pelvic floor muscles weaken due to:

• Pregnancy
• Childbirth
• Surgery
• Ageing
• Constipation
• Chronic coughing
• Obesity

Can we benefit from Kegel Exercises?

When we face any of these issues, then we can benefit from Kegel exercises:

During sneezing, if we leak urine, even if just a few drops.

If we feel the urge to urinate suddenly.

If we leak stool at times.

What are the benefits of Kegel Exercises?

Kegel exercises help strengthen pelvic muscles and benefit men and women.

They work toward preventing incontinence of both urine and faeces (for women, it can be after childbirth and for men after prostate surgery), managing post-surgery prostate pain, as well as increasing men’s sexual pleasure.

Important points

• We should empty the bladder before doing the exercises, as not doing this can lead to a urinary tract infection.
• We should aim to repeat the Kegel exercises thrice daily in three sets of 15.