Kegel exercise
Kegel Exercise
Kegel Exercise is an exercise to treat urinary incontinence developed by ‘Kegel,’ a gynecologist.
There was a doctor who was interested in urinary incontinence so much which had been troublesome for women. He is Dr. Arnold Kegel, a gynecologist. He reported the exercise method named his name in 1948, which was Kegel exercise.
Dr. Kegel had known the role of pelvic muscle in our body and how much repetition of contraction and relaxation of pelvic muscle are important. Pelvic muscle is the muscle from pelvis to tailbone. This muscle plays a role of contraction movement in urethra, vagina, and anus supporting womb, bladder, and large intestine. It is the role of pelvic muscle controlling not to release the urine when coughing, sneezing, and lifting things with pressure on the abdomen.
Therefore, if pelvic muscle is strengthened, the amount of muscle and reflective contraction capability are increased so as to assist the prevention and improvement of urinary incontinence, which was the claim by Dr. Kegel and the specialists who recommend Kegel exercise.
Source: [Page 17-18, Our body wants Kegel. Dr. Min Seok Lee]
“What is Kegel Exercise?”
Kegel exercise = contraction exercise of sphincter = pelvic muscle exercise = PC muscle exercise = perineum exercise = tightening anus
All the terms are the same including Kegel exercise, perineum exercise, tightening anus, PC muscle exercise, and pelvic muscle exercise.
Kegel exercise is the exercise to strengthen pelvic muscle.
Pelvic muscle is related to womb, bladder, large intestine, urethra, vagina, anus, and so on, and seamless Kegel exercise helps treat urinary incontinence, relieve hemorrhoid, and strengthen genitourinary system. Especially, it helps constrict women’s womb after their deliveries supporting their sexual lives significantly.
Source: [Page 131 - 132, Our body wants Kegel. Dr. Min Seok Lee]
Men’s Kegel exercise
Kegel exercise is required for both men and women. Since the muscle to hold urination is the same one that inhibits ejaculation, it will be effective to prevent premature ejaculation with exercise of this muscle. The methods of men’s Kegel exercise are similar to those of women.
Men’s Kegel exercise has two ways; contraction and relaxation of sphincter for 2-3 seconds strongly, and repetition without time gap between contraction and relaxation. Continuous exercise for 3 months would result the positive effects. In case of men, urination becomes difficult upon enlarging prostate and sexual function becomes weaker such as erectile dysfunction, which Kegel exercise can help improve the symptoms of erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and so on upon strengthening muscle power in the sphincter.
In a study of Kegel exercise 5 times or more in a week with men who suffered from erectile dysfunction more than 6 months, more than 40% of them recovered their erectile function as normal and 35% of them improved the symptoms. Besides, it can help strengthen control capability of ejaculation, strengthen prostate function, strengthen erectile function, relieve frigidity, improve hemorrhoidal symptoms, and so on.
Source: [Page 152 - 162, Our body wants Kegel. Dr. Min Seok Lee]
Postnatal Kegel exercise
Postnatal Kegel exercise which is good for rapid recovery of perineum and prevention of urinary incontinence
Fast recovery to the body shape before delivery is the earnest wish of postnatal women. The body after delivery may cause pains here and there as well as change of body shape. Many postnatal women complain the numb symptoms in the back, tailbone, hip joint, pelvic bone, legs, and so on near the hip. Contraction and relaxation by Kegel exercise after the delivery helps rapid recovery by increasing blood volume in the pelvic muscle, enhances sexual functions, and makes feel sexual satisfaction and orgasm.
Source: [Page 163 – 168. Our body wants Kegel. Dr. Min Seok Lee]