Kegel exercises, formally known as pelvic floor muscle training, involve the repeated contraction and relaxation of the muscles that support the bladder, rectum, and uterus. This simple, unassisted exercise has long been the standard first-line therapy for strengthening the pelvic floor and addressing related dysfunctions, particularly urinary incontinence. A growing number of assisted devices, often called Kegel machines or trainers, have entered the market, promising to enhance or simplify this training. These tools aim to overcome the common challenges associated with manual Kegels, leading consumers to question if these machines are genuinely superior to performing the exercises on your own.
Types of Pelvic Floor Training Devices
Assisted devices for pelvic floor training fall into three main categories, each using a different mechanism to engage the muscles.
The most low-tech options are weighted vaginal cones or balls. These are inserted and require the user to contract their pelvic floor muscles to hold the weight inside against gravity. The cones often come in sets of increasing weight, providing resistance training that challenges the muscle as it gains strength, similar to lifting weights at the gym.
A second category includes biofeedback devices, which use internal sensors, often connected to a smartphone application, to measure the strength and duration of a voluntary muscle contraction. When the user performs a Kegel, the device provides real-time visual or audio feedback. This technology transforms an invisible internal exercise into a quantifiable action, often incorporating games or tracking features.
The third type is Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) devices. These work by delivering a mild electrical current through a probe to the pelvic floor muscles. This current causes the muscles to contract reflexively and passively, meaning the user does not have to consciously squeeze. EMS is a passive form of exercise helpful for individuals who have difficulty locating or activating their pelvic floor muscles independently.
Mechanism of Action: How Devices Enhance Kegels
The primary advantage of using a pelvic floor device is addressing the most significant failure point of manual Kegels: incorrect technique. Studies suggest that a large percentage of individuals perform manual Kegel exercises incorrectly, often engaging the abdominal, buttock, or inner thigh muscles instead of the targeted pelvic floor. Biofeedback devices eliminate this uncertainty by providing immediate, objective data that confirms the correct muscles are being activated, ensuring the exercise is effective.
Biofeedback also provides progressive overload and measurable results, which are difficult to achieve manually. The devices quantify muscle strength and endurance, allowing the user to track improvements over time and adjust training intensity accordingly. This data-driven approach acts as a motivator and ensures that the muscle is continually challenged to grow stronger.
Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) offers a different mechanical benefit by passively exercising extremely weak muscles. For those with little or no voluntary muscle control, EMS can help re-establish muscle awareness and build initial strength by stimulating muscle fibers directly. Weighted cones enhance training through mechanical resistance, forcing the pelvic floor to work harder to counteract gravity.
Effectiveness in Treating Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Clinical evidence supports the efficacy of pelvic floor devices, particularly as an aid in treating common conditions like stress urinary incontinence (SUI), which involves leaking urine during physical activity. Biofeedback and EMS devices are widely used in rehabilitation settings because they significantly improve a patient’s ability to correctly isolate and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Biofeedback users have reported substantial quality of life improvements and a reduction in the frequency and severity of urinary symptoms within a few months of consistent use.
These devices are also utilized in postpartum recovery, where pelvic floor muscles are often weakened or damaged from childbirth. Targeted strengthening with a device can accelerate the restoration of muscle tone, which is important for preventing future issues like mild pelvic organ prolapse. The ability of these tools to ensure compliance and correct form makes them valuable for patients struggling to maintain consistency with unassisted exercises.
While these tools are effective, they are frequently used as an adjunct to professional care, often prescribed or recommended by a physical therapist. They serve as sophisticated training aids that enhance the benefits of manual exercises, rather than completely replacing the foundational practice of Kegels. The clinical success of these machines hinges on consistent use and their ability to overcome the technique and motivation barriers inherent in self-directed pelvic floor training.