Kegel exercises are also known as pelvic floor exercises. As the name suggests, this exercise helps to make the pelvic muscles stronger. The pelvic floor is a set of tissues and muscles. These tissues and muscles form a hammock or sling that helps hold one’s reproductive organs correctly. A frail pelvic floor can make it difficult for you to control your bladder or bowels. On the other hand, keeping the pelvic floor strong can help you avoid these issues.
Why Should One Do Kegel Exercises?
There are several benefits of Kegel exercise for both men and women. Various factors can make your pelvic floors weak such as ageing, childbirth, pregnancy, and weight gain. For women, if the tissues and muscles of the pelvic floor are weak, then organs of the pelvic area might lower into vagina. This leads to urinary incontinence which can be extremely uncomfortable. The pelvic tissues can become weak in the case of men as well who would also face this incontinence.
Benefits of Kegel Exercises for Men
Various factors can be the reason for a weak pelvic floor, including prostate removal surgery and diabetes. Following are some reasons why men should perform Kegel exercises:
1. Work Well with Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation
There is a treatment for this, which is called pelvic floor rehabilitation. In this treatment, various techniques are applied to tighten the tissues of the pelvic floor. It is even known to be as effective as a surgical procedure.
This treatment might also include other procedures like the application of electrodes. Electrode helps stimulate the muscles of the pelvic floor. Kegel exercises, in tandem with these techniques, can go a long way to help in improving the strength of the pelvic muscles.
2. Help Prevent Erectile Dysfunction
Another benefit of Kegel exercise for men includes the prevention of erectile dysfunction. Alongside making the bladder stable, Kegel exercises benefits sexually as well. Health experts often suggest Kegel exercises to men so that they last longer during sexual intercourse as these exercises help treat premature ejaculation and cure erectile dysfunction. This may help intensify orgasms as well.
In a few cases, changing the lifestyle with Kegel exercises effectively improves symptoms associated with erectile dysfunction. For some people, other interventions like therapy and counselling are added with these exercises for managing erectile dysfunction.
Benefits of Kegel Exercises for Women
Kegel exercises for women can help make the pelvic tissues stronger, which supports the bladder, small intestine, rectum, and uterus.
Pushing a baby through the vagina during pregnancy safely depends a lot on your pelvic tissues. These tissues stretch to an extreme proportion during pregnancy and childbirth. Not only do these muscles of the pelvic floor play a significant role during childbirth but if they work properly, they hold the uterus, rectum, and bladder in place, while helping to control urine from accidentally leaking while laughing or coughing.
Numerous studies have shown that Kegel exercise for pregnant women can help to reduce the odds that are associated with a weak pelvic floor. During pregnancy, the muscles of the pelvic floor need to support much more weight than on regular days. Sometimes, the muscles are not fully ready for this.
When someone goes into labour finally, these tissues stretch even more to make room for the baby to come out of the body. Many women have experienced tearing of the pelvic muscles during childbirth. Doing Kegel exercises during pregnancy can prevent these issues from taking place in the future.
Apart from this, here are a few other benefits of Kegel exercises for pregnancy:
1. Better Control of the Bladder
Many women lose control over their bladder after childbirth and doing this exercise could help prevent and cure urinary incontinence. If you notice that you are not able to control your urine from leaking while coughing, sneezing, or jogging, then it is because your pelvic muscles are not able to support the bladder.
2. Reduced Risk of Faecal Incontinence
Some women, generally those who have experienced major episiotomy or third-degree cuts during childbirth, often suffer from faecal incontinence. Doing this exercise can effectively help prevent this.
3. Faster Labour
Studies have also shown that women who regularly do Kegel exercises might have a high chance of experiencing faster labour than most women.
4. Better Sexual Experience
Kegel exercises have been shown to increase your sexual pleasure and health, which contributes to having a better sexual experience. It also helps you have an orgasm easily.
If you are experiencing pregnancy for the first time, then you may not be aware of the importance of pelvic muscles. However, once you enter the postpartum phase, you will soon realise the important role these tissues play after childbirth. Not only do they support your reproductive organs and help control your bowel function and bladder but strong pelvic muscles can also help delay or reduce the risk of symptoms like pelvic organ prolapse.
Conclusion
Various studies have proven these benefits of Kegel exercises. These exercises not only help make the pelvis stronger but also helps both men and women to have a great experience during sexual intercourse. Kegel exercises also help prevent erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation.
