A New Era In Kegel Exercise: Biofeedback for Your Pelvic Floor

Kegels are fantastic for your intimate health, with benefits that range from preventing urinary incontinence to increasing sensation during sex. However, studies show that 50% of women cannot do a correct Kegel contraction when just given written instructions. Thousands of women are out there trying to improve their health but, by doing Kegels incorrectly, they’re either wasting their time or possibly doing more harm than good.

To solve this problem doctors have been using something called biofeedback to measure patients’ pelvic strength and teach them how to use the correct muscles for Kegel exercise. Once relegated to doctors examining rooms, more advanced biofeedback technology is finally available for in-home Kegel exercising.

Putting biofeedback technology directly into the hands of the women who need it completely changes pelvic floor exercising and in-home intimate care, making Kegels easier and more effective – all in one tiny device.

What is Biofeedback?

Biofeedback is a technique that uses information gathered from your body and analyzed by a medical device to help you gain control over your biological functions. The device records information about your body (bio), then analyzes and shows you that information in an easy to understand format (feedback).  In the case of Kegel exercises, biofeedback from your exerciser tells you if you’re using the correct muscles during pelvic floor contractions and how strong your contractions are.

Dr. Arnold Kegel, the man responsible for first showing the benefits of pelvic floor exercise, was the first to use biofeedback for improving the strength of the pelvic floor in treatment for incontinence. He instructed patients to practice at home, and then return to the office to have their levels tested and their technique adjusted.

Early devices, called perineometers, used air-filled sacs to measure the strength of a woman’s muscles when she squeezed. The devices evolved over time to use electromyography (EMG) to sense the tiny electronic signals that every muscle in the body gives off, but new devices use more precise touch sensors to gauge specific pressure exerted by the pelvic floor muscles.

How does Biofeedback enhance Kegels?

Research shows that using a biofeedback device with your Kegel routine is significantly more effective at improving pelvic muscle strength than using just verbal or written instructions. Kegel devices using biofeedback generally register pelvic strength and continue to gauge your level throughout the routine, sometimes giving you tactile, visual or auditory cues so you can make adjustments to your exercises.

Some devices will require you to do an assessment session first to test your strength and then you set your own level, but the best exercisers continuously measure your pelvic floor strength and automatically set the exercise routine as you progress. It is extremely important that you exercise at the right level to get the most out of your efforts. Watch the video below to learn how a smart Kegel exerciser can help you conquer your Kegels!

With a good biofeedback device you don’t have to worry that you’re doing the exercise wrong or wonder if you’re contracting long enough – the device determines the most effective routine and guides you through it step by step. In a sense, it does the thinking for you. You don’t have to keep track of anything, just make sure you’re exercising regularly and focusing on the routine.

Dr. Kegel himself made the observation that having your progress clearly shown throughout the process is a strong motivator for anyone trying to reach a goal – and it’s no different for pelvic floor strengthening.

Integrating a biofeedback device into your Kegel exercise program at home can help you reach your pelvic floor goals faster and more effectively because it guides you through each step and encourages you to keep going – and it’s always good to get a little more encouragement when improving your health!