Before we even go into the details of how to do a Kegel let’s talk about where that word “Kegel” came from.
Dr. Arnold Kegel was a Gynecologist who popularized pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) with the research he conducted in the 1940-1950’s. He researched PFMT as an alternative to surgery for women suffering from urinary incontinence and prolapse. We owe a huge thanks to Dr. Kegel for providing alternative healing vs the typical surgical approach. Thank you Dr. Kegel for putting pelvic health on the map.
While I appreciate Dr. Kegel’s immense contribution to pelvic health, I am going to be using the anatomical medical terminology “Pelvic Floor Muscle Training (PFMT)” vs “Kegel” throughout the rest of this post.
I will start with saying that these exercises are not for everyone as there may be more going on than just having weak pelvic floor muscles.
PFMT may not be right for you if:
Always consult with your health care provider and a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic health to see if these exercises are right for you. The APTA academy has a great resource to find a pelvic health therapist near you (https://aptapelvichealth.org/ptlocator/).
PFMT exercise
