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stop doing kegels

Should You Stop Doing Kegels?

Read on for the answer.

In my last post, “Why You Should Be Doing Kegels NOW”, I went over the specific diagnoses that tend to benefit most from doing pelvic floor muscle exercises. However, not all issues related to the pelvic floor are appropriate to prescribe pelvic floor muscle exercises for. In fact, doing Kegels can actually be harmful and counterproductive to your symptoms if you have certain diagnoses, and it may be best if you stop doing kegels depending on your diagnosis.

In physical therapy, there are proper and improper times to strengthen a muscle. When speaking about the pelvic floor, you should only strengthen a muscle that is weak and overly lengthened. If a muscle in a high state of rest (guarded, hypertonic, or with limited flexibility), the LAST thing you should do is continually contract it. This will only further shorten/tighten an already short/tight muscle and likely make your problem worse, or at the very least, prevent if from getting better.

Here are the primary diagnoses that I generally recommend you stop doing kegels exercises (and even core strengthening) with, at least in the early stages of treatment:

1) Vaginismus
2) Vulvodynia / Vulvar Vestibulitis / Vestibulodynia / Provoked Vestibulodynia / Clitoris pain
3) Overactive Pelvic Floor
4) Genito-Pelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder (GPPD)
5) Introidal Dyspareunia
6) Interstitial Cystitis / Painful Bladder Syndrome
7) Urinary Urgency & Frequency

The above diagnoses are frequently in need of muscle relaxation and stretching to get the muscle to a normal state of rest. To continually contract the muscles in the area will only feed into the pain cycle (or make the muscle more short/tight). As physical therapists, our job is to break the cycle of pain. The best way to approach these diagnoses is through advanced muscle techniques, which should include a complimentary home program.

Eventually, strengthening will be needed and balancing out any asymmetries that were identified on your initial visit. If painful intercourse is a part of your diagnosis, the program outlined in Sex Without Pain: A Self-Treatment Guide to the Sex Life You Deserve offers a comprehensive program to overcoming this type of pain.

What will happen at my first physical therapy visit?

After a thorough history, we will begin the physical exam which will include a postural assessment and a check of associated muscles flexibility and strength. After possible contributing factors have been addressed on a larger scale, the smaller pelvic floor muscles will be evaluated. There is no speculum involved and instead will be an assessment of pelvic floor muscle function, including contraction, relaxation and palpation for tender areas. Once these areas are identified, treatment will begin, and most patients leave their first visit with a home exercise program that will directly influence their symptoms to reduce their pain.

What Our Patients Have to Say

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Testimonial by Ann V.

I wish i could give this place 10 stars!! 
I have been suffering from vaginismus for 5 years and never found the cure to it. I had seen an ob/gyn and he diagnosed me with vaginismus and told me i needed a surgery to cure my condition, which i refused to do. He also referred me to a PT that he works with, i had given them multiple calls and they never responded back to me, so i started searching yelp for another PT. I am SO HAPPY I found Heather's office! I was working with Laureen, and with her guidance and techniques i was able to be cured from vaginismus in only 2 1/2 short months!!! I couldn't believe how quickly their program worked for me! I am forever grateful and thankful from Heather, and Laureen! They are the absolute best at what they do!

Read more: Testimonial by Ann V.

Testimonial by Alexandra B.

Heather is without exaggerating AMAZING! After years of trouble with a certain part of my body, in no time, she made everything change back to equilibrium and to what would be considered normal. She explains everything in detail and therefore gives you a better understanding of why things are the way they are, and how you can work towards turning things around. I would highly recommend Heather for any type of Physical Therapy. She has created her own "Method/Therapy" through years of studying (with some of the greatest practitioners), practice and breaking down the issues of her past patients, enabling her to fine tune her own system. I'm so thankful to have found her, and I'm especially grateful for the quick recovery I've achieved, after years of distress. If you cannot afford her, I recommend you purchase her book. Although it may not be Heather in person, it can still help you to get on the right path to recovery!

-- Alexandra B., 5/20/2015 via Yelp!

Testimonial by Lauren B.

Femina PT (née Fusion Wellness & Physical Therapy) has been such an answer to prayer, i'm so glad I found them! I've been struggling with vaginismus my whole life, but didn't have a name for it until about 6 or 7 months ago. Even once I did have a name for it though, I didn't know where to begin in getting help. My OB/GYN had me get a set of dilators, but I couldn't even insert the smallest one by myself. Most times I tried I just ended up frustrated and in tears. I felt really alone, like I was broken and didn't have the energy to keep trying. When I got engaged a few months ago though, I realized I needed to get answers so i wasn't dreading my honeymoon.

Read more: Testimonial by Lauren B.

Testimonial by Alexandra B.

Heather is without exaggerating AMAZING! After years of trouble with a certain part of my body, in no time, she made everything change back to equilibrium and to what would be considered normal. She explains everything in detail and therefore gives you a better understanding of why things are the way they are, and how you can work towards turning things around. I would highly recommend Heather for any type of Physical Therapy. She has created her own "Method/Therapy" through years of studying (with some of the greatest practitioners), practice and breaking down the issues of her past patients, enabling her to fine tune her own system. I'm so thankful to have found her, and I'm especially grateful for the quick recovery I've achieved, after years of distress. If you cannot afford her, I recommend you purchase her book. Although it may not be Heather in person, it can still help you to get on the right path to recovery!

-- Alexandra B., 5/20/2015 via Yelp!

Testimonial by Y.L. (mom of 2)

After having my second baby via C-section I searched for months to try to find help for my lower back pain and separated abdominal muscles. I finally came across Heather Jeffcoat via a mommy blog. I reached out to her via email and set my first appointment. My first appointment went amazing … she listened to what my symptoms, check my separation and explained to me in detail what the next steps would be. Not only did my abdominal separation go from 3 to about 1 -1/2 but my back has pain has significantly reduced. I’m personally recommending all my mommy friends to Heather!

Y.L. (mom of 2)

Testimonial by R.S.

I wanted to thank you so much for helping me get through something I thought I may never be able to. We have achieved pain-free intercourse and this has really solidified our marriage. We are so grateful to you for all the work you do! Thank you!!

-- R.S.

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