Femme PFT Pelvic Floor Trainer with Biofeedback Indicator

Pelvic floor muscles - the pubococcygeal muscles - are a hammock like group of muscles that stretch from side to side across the pelvic floor. Pelvic floor muscle holds pelvic organs and abdominal content inside the pelvis. It supports the uterus, bladder and bowels. It also contributes to sexual function, including sensation and secretion during sexual arousal.

Strong pelvic muscles contribute to life long continence and improve sexual responsiveness.

Weak pelvic floor leads to the development of incontinence, which initially present itself as urine leakage during coughing, sneezing, exercising or even simply running or walking. If not addressed and eradicated, the weakness can progress further into a very unpleasant pelvic organs prolapse (i.e. cervical, urethral, bowel, etc.) that may require painful surgical repair.

Childbirth is one of the major reasons of compromised pelvic floor, manifesting itself as urine leakage called stress incontinence. However, loss of pelvic muscle tone and pelvic floor weakness occurs even in women, who have never given birth. Others reasons influencing pelvic floor strength include hormonal changes during natural ageing process and the menopause.

Women of all ages should endeavour to maintain their pelvic floor strength and to tone pelvic floor muscles regularly to prevent any natural muscular deterioration leading to increasing pelvic floor weakness. The benefits of strong pelvic floor include prevention or reversal of urinary leakage, prevention of pelvic prolapse and an enhancement of sexual enjoyment for both partners.

One simple and natural way to maintain strong and healthy pelvic floor is to perform pelvic floor exercises. Pelvic floor exercises are often referred to as Kegel exercises. The exercises were named after Dr Arnold Kegel, who first described them when trying to find ways of preventing urinary incontinence. Basic Kegel exercises are simply tightening/squeezing and relaxing pelvic floor muscles time after time again for up to 200 times per day. You can also tighten/squeeze the muscles slowly and hold for several seconds. You can do fast squeeze and relax without holding routines. Gradually, and if performed regularly, the exercises will condition, tone and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.

When you first commence doing the Kegel exercises, count the number of squeezes you can do before your muscles get tired. As you continue with exercise routine over a period of time - count again and note your progress. You can set yourself a target to achieve.

Success of pelvic floor exercises depends on regularity, good technique and the use of correct muscles. Isolating and using the correct pelvic floor muscles is very important as it is the pelvic muscle contraction that strengthens the pelvic floor. Many women have a tendency to contract abdominal or thigh muscles rather than the pubococcygeus that forms the pelvic floor.