LEARN MORE ABOUT KEGEL EXERCISE

Kegel exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which support the uterus, bladder, small intestine and rectum. You can do Kegel exercises, also known as pelvic floor muscle training, just about anytime.

Please note the following

There are many factors that can weaken your pelvic floor muscles, including:

1. Pregnancy, 
2. Childbirth, 
3. Surgery, 
4. Aging,
5. Excessive straining from constipation 
6. Chronic coughing, 
7. Being overweight.

You might benefit from doing Kegel exercises if you:

1. Leak a few drops of urine while sneezing, laughing or coughing (stress incontinence).

2. Have a strong, sudden urge to urinate just before losing a large amount of urine (urinary incontinence).

3. Leak stool (fecal incontinence)

Normally, Kegel exercises can be done

1. During pregnancy or 
2. After childbirth to try to prevent urinary incontinence.

Please note

1. Kegel exercises are less helpful for women who have severe urine leakage when they sneeze, cough or laugh.

2. Also, Kegel exercises aren't helpful for women who unexpectedly leak small amounts of urine due to a full bladder (overflow incontinence).

How to do Kegel exercises

1. Find the right muscles. To identify your pelvic floor muscles, stop urination in midstream. If you succeed, you've got the right muscles. Once you've identified your pelvic floor muscles you can do the exercises in any position, although you might find it easiest to do them lying down at first.

2. Perfect your technique. Tighten your pelvic floor muscles, hold the contraction for five seconds, and then relax for five seconds. Try it four or five times in a row. Work up to keeping the muscles contracted for 10 seconds at a time, relaxing for 10 seconds between contractions.

3. 
Maintain your focus. For best results, focus on tightening only your pelvic floor muscles. Be careful not to flex the muscles in your abdomen, thighs or buttocks. Avoid holding your breath. Instead, breathe freely during the exercises.
Repeat three times a day. Aim for at least three sets of 10 repetitions a day.

4. Don't make a habit of using Kegel exercises to start and stop your urine stream.

5. Doing Kegel exercises while emptying your bladder can actually lead to incomplete emptying of the bladder — which increases the risk of a urinary tract infection.