Pelvic floor training – treatment, effects & risks
Pelvic floor training
Pelvic floor training is also called Kegel training . Named after inventor Arnold H. Kegel. This workout trains the muscles around the pelvic floor. If the pelvic floor is not optimally trained, problems often arise. An example of this is urinary incontinence . Pelvic floor training can help.
What is pelvic floor training?
Experts call the pelvic floor the boundary of the pelvic canal. Anatomically, it is the pelvic floor muscles, which in technical jargon are called perineal (perineum) muscles.
The pelvic floor training helps to keep the muscles tight. These muscles support the closure of the urethra ( urethra ) and the anus .
Another function is an optimal musculature for the position of the abdominal and pelvic organs. If the musculature of the pelvic floor is slack, experts recommend pelvic floor training. It is not only used for existing complaints, but also for prevention.
Application areas
A slack pelvic floor musculature can cause back pain , sexual problems or urinary incontinence, even up to fecal incontinence .This is why pelvic floor training is important. After childbirth, women often have stretched and lax pelvic muscles. But bladder and uterine prolapse , aging and obesity can also lead to slack muscles around the pelvic floor. Pelvic floor training strengthens the stressed muscles after childbirth.
Men are anatomically built differently than women, which is why they rarely suffer from slack pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic floor training is also important for a man. If a man has had prostate cancer surgery, pelvic floor exercises are valuable because urinary incontinence can develop after these surgeries.
The muscles around the pelvic floor tend not to be felt. It is not actively used. If a woman has an orgasm, this is automatically activated. It is also called the love muscle. The pelvic floor training not only supports the elimination organs, but also the ability to have an orgasm. Male ejaculation can also be delayed with pelvic floor training. The inventor Arnold H. Kegel successfully documented this in 1952.
Method of application – function, effect & goals
There are some conservative application methods for pelvic floor exercises . Experts also use aids for pelvic floor training. These include so-called ring or cube pessaries and foam tampons. These tools are customized. The patient has to change this himself. There are also vaginal cones for pelvic floor training that have different weights. The cone is inserted into the vagina like a tampon. The patient must actively hold these cones in the vagina.
As another application method for pelvic floor training, there is a special pelvic floor machine in a fitness center. Trained staff give the user instructions on how to properly contract and relax the pelvic floor muscles during pelvic floor training.
A so-called EMS device (electrical muscle stimulation) is also considered by experts to be an application method for pelvic floor training. This device has a probe that is inserted either rectally or vaginally. The device generates stimulation current pulses. These impulses result in automated contractions.
There are qualified physiotherapists who specifically carry out pelvic floor training. After instruction from the physiotherapist, the exercises can also be carried out at home. This includes alternating contraction and relaxation, which can be done in front of the television, in the car or while ironing as a pelvic floor workout.
Risks, side effects & dangers
Experts recommend that patients first do pelvic floor training with a psychotherapist or midwife . Trained staff is an advantage to learn the pelvic floor training properly.The pelvic floor muscles can only be tightened if the pelvic floor training is carried out correctly and regularly. Pelvic floor training has more advantages than disadvantages, but it also harbors dangers. If the pelvic floor training is not carried out optimally, the muscles can be pulled or the “wrong” muscles can be used. Then the pelvic floor muscles cannot be tightened.
The longer the pelvic floor training lasts, the more pressure sores can develop. This often happens when using EMS devices. Germs can also enter the vagina and lead to urinary tract injections. However, the side effects are positive. If the pelvic floor training is carried out optimally, the internal organs are supported.
Hello! I am Lisa Newlon, and I am a medical writer and researcher with over 10 years of experience in the healthcare industry. I have a Master’s degree in Medicine, and my deep understanding of medical terminology, practices, and procedures has made me a trusted source of information in the medical world.