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Pelvic Muscle Exercises, Kegel
Exercises.
Find the right muscles. This is very
important. Your doctor, nurse, or
physical therapist will help make
sure you are doing the exercises the
right way.
You should tighten the two major
muscles that stretch across your
pelvic floor. They are the "hammock"
muscle and the "triangle" muscle.
Here are three methods to check for
the correct muscles.
Try to stop the flow of urine when
you are sitting on the toilet. If
you can do it, you are using the
right muscles.
Imagine that you are trying to stop
passing gas. Squeeze the muscles you
would use. If you sense a "pulling"
feeling, those are the right muscles
for pelvic exercises.
Lie down and put your finger inside
your vagina. Squeeze as if you were
trying to stop urine from coming
out. If you feel tightness on your
finger, you are squeezing the right
pelvic muscle.
Don't squeeze other muscles at the
same time. Be careful not to tighten
your stomach, legs, or other
muscles. Squeezing the wrong muscles
can put more pressure on your
bladder control muscles. Just
squeeze the pelvic muscle. Don't
hold your breath.
Repeat, but don't overdo it. At
first, find a quiet spot to
practice--your bathroom or
bedroom--so you can concentrate. Lie
on the floor. Pull in the pelvic
muscles and hold for a count of 3.
Then relax for a count of 3. Work up
to 10 to 15 repeats each time you
exercise.
Healthy sphincter muscles can keep
the urethra closed.
Do your pelvic exercises at least
three times a day. Every day, use
three positions: lying down,
sitting, and standing. You can
exercise while lying on the floor,
sitting at a desk, or standing in
the kitchen. Using all three
positions makes the muscles
strongest.
Be patient. Don't give up. It's just
5 minutes, three times a day. You
may not feel your bladder control
improve until after 3 to 6 weeks.
Still, most women do notice an
improvement after a few weeks.
Exercise aids. You can also exercise
by using special weights or
biofeedback. Ask your health care
team about these exercise aids.
Content Courtesy :
kidney.niddk.nih.gov
Note : Information herein is
provided for informational purposes
only and is not a substitute for
professional medical advice. You
should not use this information for
diagnosing or treating a medical or
health condition. If you have or
suspect you have a medical problem,
promptly contact your professional
healthcare provider. Please consult
your healthcare provider before
beginning any course of
supplementation or treatment.
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