Why Kegels can't be killed off, perhaps.....

Submitted by Surviving60 on November 13, 2012 - 9:58am
Body: 

I have a theory on why kegels continue to be so ingrained in everyone’s mind as a means of prolapse prevention and treatment.

We do know that frequently, post-partum prolapse will resolve on its own, given half a chance. It might return later after a subsequent birth, or maybe not until before, during or after menopause.

After delivery, some women will notice every change and bring it to the attention of their doctor. They will check themselves in the mirror and seek explanations for every big and little thing that they see or feel. If the doctor sees a prolapse, he or she will say “do kegels”, and if the prolapse lessens, everyone will say “boy, those kegels sure did the trick!”.

Others (like me!) are more squeamish and will have no interest in examining their post-partum vaginas. If there is any heaviness or bulge felt, they will attribute it to having just squeezed out a large babe! If they are lucky, and don’t overdo, and if the birth itself was not too badly managed, and if they are relatively undamaged, maybe that heavy bulgy feeling will subside on its own, at least for now.

My point is that kegels are wrongly getting the credit for many spontaneous improvements. They may be helping to “wake up” certain muscles that are traumatized by the birth process, but they aren’t doing anything for pelvic organ support. In fact, they are working against it, as Christine’s research has demonstrated.

In an ideal world, PP moms will take the opportunity to re-learn correct posture while their bodies are still accustomed to the feel of carrying everything towards the front. Those lucky moms will in all likelihood never experience a serious prolapse later in life. - Surviving

Forum:

MsNightingale

November 13, 2012 - 10:17am

Great post.....I am recalling one place in Christine's book where she says (please correct me if I am wrong) that kegels can sometimes help with incontinence, but should only be done in WW posture. Of course, this will not help the prolapse, but possibly some other things. Does that lead me to believe that they are not damaging, but not helpful either?

Surviving60

November 13, 2012 - 10:30am

Yes Nightingale, I believe you are correct. They may have some use in controlling incontinence if the incontinence itself is not caused by prolapse. They may have some use in waking up certain muscles after birth or other trauma. And they may help improve sex. If a woman is determined to do them, then yes, definitely in WW posture (which unfortunately is not how they are usually taught).

That being said.....I think that Christine's most recent blog posts that describe how traditional kegels actually pull things in the wrong direction, have effectively eliminated (in my mind at least) any good reason for doing them at all. - Surviving

fab

November 14, 2012 - 9:51pm

I think the medical profession is also thinking incontinence, then what you need is sphincter power i.e. Kegels, but if it is anything besides sphincter power, then you need something else.

Not sure if they have reached the stage where they might think Kegels detrimental.