As one who has successfully integrated pelvic floor work as a management tool, one point I would make is specified holds may not be appropriate in the case of pelvic floor spasticity. Using biofeedback (urology clinic) and a pelvic floor physiotherapist, I had to have a much longer relax time between contractions and contractions should be gentle and slow to start. An individual may need a tiny 2 second contraction and a 12-25 second relax (with breathing).
I know many who have been told “no kegels” if spasticity is an issue and this is not true. We just have to work gently. #themsgym
It was strange to me that the right side spasticity affected my function even internally on that side. But it makes sense. I agree that the best help involves a PT who can do an internal assessment. Otherwise spasticity issues can be missed (spasticity and weakness - close cousins) and successful treatment is unlikely.
For those that are able, the ‘Squeezy’ app (NHS & free) is a great app for reminders which you can personalise - although my kids like shouting out ‘squeezy time mum!’ every time it buzzes my Apple Watch ☺️
I use Squeezy app and a Kegel8 machine to address posterior vaginal wall prolapse, originally caused by high forceps delivery of my first child. I am currently under the care of a Women’s physio. The problem has worsened since menopause. I’ve been doing daily pelvic floor exercises for about 12 weeks and using kegel8 machine 3x week on advice of physio. It was difficult at first to know if I was the exercises correctly, which is where a digital exam comes in helpful. I hope things are improving - I’ll find out when I see the physio in November! Also really important, so I’m told by my physio and GP, to start HRT vaginal pessary post menopause, which helps with dryness and prevention of urinary tract infections especially if experiencing discomfort.
I do regularly do pelvic floor exercises and do a lot of pilates. But I still don't know if I'm doing it right. I tried a bio-feedback gadget but my efforts hardly moved the dial on the graph.
I thought I did pelvic floor exercises, having known about them since my first pregnancy 25 years ago. However, I feel I was deluding myself having seen the videos and read the comments here. I was just doing the 10 squeezes a couple of times a day - amateur! It is timely advice as I am just getting over a UTI (haven't had one for years) which I think is MS / menapause related. I need to go back to school and upgrade my regime. Thank you for the advice and tips here. It is another thing to remember but a worthwhile one.
The Squeezy app is great. You can set a reminder 3 times a day and it guides you through 2 sets of pelvic floor exercises for the short and long muscles. You can easily add it to your daily routine for example when you are brushing your teeth, sitting for lunch and then brushing your teeth at night.
Since I’ve had a “camel bladder” - the opposite of dripping, but rather the kind that won’t let go, I was warned never to practice kegels to stop your urine stream, which is what we were taught to do after childbirth. I do them very gently and carefully. I would love to have a pelvic floor physiotherapist like KC, but there’s very little help such as that available. Thanks for this.
As one who has successfully integrated pelvic floor work as a management tool, one point I would make is specified holds may not be appropriate in the case of pelvic floor spasticity. Using biofeedback (urology clinic) and a pelvic floor physiotherapist, I had to have a much longer relax time between contractions and contractions should be gentle and slow to start. An individual may need a tiny 2 second contraction and a 12-25 second relax (with breathing).
I know many who have been told “no kegels” if spasticity is an issue and this is not true. We just have to work gently. #themsgym
Thanks, this is why I need people to leave comments. This is something I did not know about.
Call it crowd-sourcing self-help!
It was strange to me that the right side spasticity affected my function even internally on that side. But it makes sense. I agree that the best help involves a PT who can do an internal assessment. Otherwise spasticity issues can be missed (spasticity and weakness - close cousins) and successful treatment is unlikely.
For those that are able, the ‘Squeezy’ app (NHS & free) is a great app for reminders which you can personalise - although my kids like shouting out ‘squeezy time mum!’ every time it buzzes my Apple Watch ☺️
Oh gosh sorry, I must have forgotten that I paid £2.99. That’s the great thing about MS dementia 😂
I use Squeezy app and a Kegel8 machine to address posterior vaginal wall prolapse, originally caused by high forceps delivery of my first child. I am currently under the care of a Women’s physio. The problem has worsened since menopause. I’ve been doing daily pelvic floor exercises for about 12 weeks and using kegel8 machine 3x week on advice of physio. It was difficult at first to know if I was the exercises correctly, which is where a digital exam comes in helpful. I hope things are improving - I’ll find out when I see the physio in November! Also really important, so I’m told by my physio and GP, to start HRT vaginal pessary post menopause, which helps with dryness and prevention of urinary tract infections especially if experiencing discomfort.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could get up and down off the floor? Can these be done
On a bed or couch?
Yes, these can be done on the bed or couch.
I do regularly do pelvic floor exercises and do a lot of pilates. But I still don't know if I'm doing it right. I tried a bio-feedback gadget but my efforts hardly moved the dial on the graph.
How do you get a personal assesement?
Thanks for writing about this.
I thought I did pelvic floor exercises, having known about them since my first pregnancy 25 years ago. However, I feel I was deluding myself having seen the videos and read the comments here. I was just doing the 10 squeezes a couple of times a day - amateur! It is timely advice as I am just getting over a UTI (haven't had one for years) which I think is MS / menapause related. I need to go back to school and upgrade my regime. Thank you for the advice and tips here. It is another thing to remember but a worthwhile one.
The best advice I got was to drink more water. It's tempting to drink less, but no, drink more 🤷♂️
The Squeezy app is great. You can set a reminder 3 times a day and it guides you through 2 sets of pelvic floor exercises for the short and long muscles. You can easily add it to your daily routine for example when you are brushing your teeth, sitting for lunch and then brushing your teeth at night.
Since I’ve had a “camel bladder” - the opposite of dripping, but rather the kind that won’t let go, I was warned never to practice kegels to stop your urine stream, which is what we were taught to do after childbirth. I do them very gently and carefully. I would love to have a pelvic floor physiotherapist like KC, but there’s very little help such as that available. Thanks for this.