K

Kegel exercises A series of exercises to
strengthen the pubococcygeal muscle, a figure-
eight double loop of MUSCLEthat forms the pelvic
floor. Arnold H. Kegel, MD, an American gynecol-
ogist who practiced in Los Angeles, California,
popularized the pelvic muscle exercises that now
bear his name when he developed a BIOFEEDBACK
device called a perineometer in the 1940s. Though
urologists and gynecologists had been instructing
women in the procedure of these exercises for
over a decade as treatment for URINARY INCONTI-
NENCE, most women had no idea whether they
were doing them correctly. The Kegel perineome-
ter was the first device to measure the effective-
ness of the cycles of contraction and relaxation of
the pubococcygeal muscle. In conjunction with
biofeedback, Kegel exercises became highly suc-
cessful in resolving mild to moderate urinary
incontinence in many women.

PERFORMING KEGEL EXERCISES

• Identify the pubococcygeal muscle by stopping
  and starting the flow of URINATION or, for
  women, inserting a finger into the VAGINA.
  Women or men may benefit from BIOFEEDBACK
  methods.


• Begin with 10 repetitions of the complete
  cycle of contract, hold, and relax. Maintain
  each stage for 10 seconds. Repeat three times
  a day.


• As pubococcygeal muscle STRENGTHimproves,
  increase the length of each stage to 20 seconds
  and the number of repetitions gradually to 50.
  Repeat three times a day.

Kegel exercises, also called pelvic floor exer-
cises, today remain the most effective noninvasive
treatment for urinary incontinence in women—

and in men after surgery to treat BENIGN PROSTATIC

HYPERPLASIA(BPH) or PROSTATE CANCER. Many obste-

tricians recommend Kegel exercises to speed

recovery after CHILDBIRTH. Kegel exercises are also

often helpful for treating premature EJACULATIONin

men. The exercises are very simple, consisting of

cycles of contracting, holding, and relaxing the

pubococcygeal muscle repeated several times a

day. Once a person learns the exercises, he or she

can perform them unnoticeably and when seated,

standing, or lying down.

It is important to correctly identify the pubococ-

cygeal muscle; the muscles of the buttocks,

abdomen, and thighs should be relaxed when per-

forming Kegel exercises. An easy way to learn to

contract the pubococcygeal muscle is to consciously

stop and start the flow of URINEwhen urinating.

BIOFEEDBACKremains the most effective means for

determining whether the person is performing the

Kegel exercises correctly, and a variety of biofeed-

back devices are available for home use. Women

may also use a simple device called a vaginal cone.

Most people begin to experience results in about six

to eight weeks. It is important to continue regularly

with Kegel exercises to maintain optimal pubococ-

cygeal muscle tone and STRENGTH.

See also FECAL INCONTINENCE.

kidney cancer See RENAL CANCER.

kidney cyst See RENAL CYST.

kidney dialysis See RENAL DIALYSIS.

kidney disease of diabetes See NEPHROPATHY.

kidney donor An individual who donates his or

her KIDNEYSafter death or who donates one kidney

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