Editing Kegel exercise (section)

{{Short description|Pelvic floor exercise}}
{{Infobox medical intervention
| synonyms     = pelvic muscles exercise
| image        = 
| caption      = 
| pronounce    = Kegel: {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|eɪ|ɡ|əl|,_|k|i:|-}}
| alt          =
| ICD10        =
| ICD9         =
| ICD9unlinked =
| MeshID       =
| LOINC        =
| other_codes  =
| MedlinePlus  =
| eMedicine 2   =
}}

'''Kegel exercise''', also known as '''pelvic floor exercise''', involves repeatedly contracting and relaxing the [[muscle]]s that form part of the [[pelvic floor]], now sometimes colloquially referred to as the "Kegel muscles". The exercise can be performed many times a day, for several minutes at a time but takes one to three months to begin to have an effect.<ref>{{cite web | title = Pelvic floor muscle training exercises | publisher = MedlinePlus | date = 10 October 2018 | url = https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003975.htm | access-date = 14 May 2020 | archive-date = 28 July 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160728014759/https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003975.htm | url-status = live }}</ref>

Kegel exercises aim to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003975.htm|title= Pelvic floor muscle training exercises: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia|website= medlineplus.gov|language= en|access-date= 2019-02-26|quote= Pelvic floor muscle training exercises are a series of exercises designed to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor.|archive-date= 2016-07-28|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160728014759/https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003975.htm|url-status= live}}</ref> These muscles have many functions within the human body. In women, they are responsible for holding up the [[urinary bladder|bladder]], preventing [[Stress incontinence|urinary stress incontinence]] (especially after childbirth), vaginal and uterine prolapse.<ref>{{Cite news|url= https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/bladder-control-problems-women/kegel-exercises|title= Kegel Exercises {{!}} NIDDK|work= National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases|access-date= 2017-12-02|archive-date= 2018-04-22|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180422224842/https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/bladder-control-problems-women/kegel-exercises|url-status= live}}{{PD-notice}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url= https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003975.htm|title= Pelvic floor muscle training exercises: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia|website= medlineplus.gov|access-date= 2017-12-02|archive-date= 2016-07-28|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160728014759/https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003975.htm|url-status= live}}</ref> In men, these muscles are responsible for urinary continence, fecal continence, and [[ejaculation]].<ref name="autogenerated22">{{cite journal|last1=La Pera|first1=G|last2=Nicastro|first2=A|year=1996|title=A new treatment for premature ejaculation: the rehabilitation of the pelvic floor|journal=Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy|volume=22|issue=1|pages=22–6|doi=10.1080/00926239608405302|pmid=8699493}}</ref><ref name=":1" /> Several tools exist to help with these exercises, although various studies debate the relative effectiveness of different tools versus traditional exercises.<ref name="bjui.org">{{cite web |url= http://www.bjui.org/ContentFullItem.aspx?id=427&LinkTypeID=1&SectionType=4 |title= A randomised controlled trial of the PelvicToner Device in female stress urinary incontinence |publisher= BJUI.org |access-date= 2011-09-02 |archive-date= 2011-09-27 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110927120712/http://www.bjui.org/ContentFullItem.aspx?id=427&LinkTypeID=1&SectionType=4 |url-status= live }}</ref>

The American [[gynecologist]] [[Arnold Kegel]] first published a description of such exercises in 1948.<ref>{{Citation |last=Huang |first=Yi-Chen |title=Kegel Exercises |date=2024 |work=StatPearls |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK555898/ |access-date=2024-10-21 |place=Treasure Island (FL) |publisher=StatPearls Publishing |pmid=32310358 |last2=Chang |first2=Ke-Vin}}</ref>