| Dr. Arnold Kegel was the first to develop special exercises to work out the pelvic floor muscles, especially pubococcygeus muscles (PC muscles). The muscles are involved in urination, bowel movements, sexual intercourse and, in females, during labor.
Many medical conditions, such as pregnancy, labour, being overweight, aging, a chronic cough, a genetic predisposition to weak connective tissue, badly impact on your pelvic floor muscles. In men, debilitating of the pelvis can also cause premature ejaculation. In both men and women, the debilitated pelvic floor muscles can trigger a decrease in ability to climax.
So, Kegel exercises are recommended for a variety of purposes. This type of exercising should be the "first line" of a management program to deal with stress or incontinence. The pc muscles engaged by this kind of exercise include the anal and urinary sphincter. In males, the exercises can "lift" the testicles. Sometimes the results are visible in a few weeks after the regular exercising, but some men observe their testicles lifting in no time.
Like any muscle of the human body, the pelvic floor muscles, if not involved or "worked out" regularly, debilitate and finally atrophy. Vaginal atrophy is a particular problem for post-menopausal females.
In females, deficiency of muscle tone in the pelvic area can cause vaginal or uterine prolapse, sometimes referred to as fallen uterus.
The conditions can result in discomfort and sometimes require surgical treatment. But, the main cause is a collapse of the pelvic floor which holds the inner organs in place.
Kegel exercises can prevent these conditions and can aid in treating them, too.
To make sure you are aware how to contract your pelvic floor muscles, try to stop the flow of urine while you are going to the bathroom. This is the basic move. Or try another technique: put a finger inside your vagina and try to squeeze the muscles. Try to feel your vagina become tight and your pelvic floor move up. Then stop contracting the pc muscles and feel your pelvic floor move down to the initial position.
Kegel exercises are to be done on a regular basis to achieve the best results. A set of Kegel exercises for men and women can be found at kegel-exercise.org. Remember it is better to forestall a medical condition than to deal with it. |
