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kegel or pelvic muscle exercisesMany woman were taught how to do Kegel exercises in the past and felt they were not effective. Such woman were taught incorrectly. The key to learning the exercises is in the proper identification of the pelvic muscle. Kegel exercises, male version, are just as useful after prostate cancer surgery to improve urinary incontinence symptoms. Finding the pelvic muscle is just as important for men to do Kegel exercises correctly. Kegel exercises involve improving the urethral resistance (increasing support to the urethra) and urinary control through active exercise of the pubococcygeus muscle. Weakness of the pelvic floor in woman can be caused by childbirth where descent of the pelvis causes pudendal nerve neuropathy (decreased sensation and function of nerve endings) and stress urinary incontinence. Age and an accompanying decrease in physical activity can decrease fast twitch muscle fibers which are part of the pelvic floor causing urinary incontinence, urgency and frequency. The pelvic floor surrounds the prostate in men and surgery of the prostate can damage this muscle group causing stress urinary incontinence. To counter these effects, Dr. Arnold Kegel, a gynecologist, advocated in the 1940's for teaching women of childbearing years how to do these exercises. He reported 86% success rate with young, as well as elderly, women with stress urinary incontinence. The premise for Kegel's exercises was that women need to first gain awareness of the function of the pelvic muscles. Weakness in pelvic floor can lead to problems with both bladder and rectal support. Urinary continence is difficult to maintain without the strength and support of the pelvic muscle. Correcting pelvic floor weakness through rehabilitation of pelvic muscles is helpful in both fecal and urinary incontinence where lack of pelvic support is a causative factor. The pelvic floor muscle consists of a mixture of slow and fast twitch muscle cells controlled by the pudendal nerve. An increase in the tone of the pelvic floor muscles is said to provide support to the bladder and there may be a decrease in frequency and urgency following pelvic floor exercises. Today success is seen in 80% of persons practicing these exercises. Many woman were taught how to do Kegel exercises in the past and felt they were not effective. Such woman were taught incorrectly. The key to learning the exercises is in the proper identification of the muscle.
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