Kegel exercises

Muscle exercises that strengthen the pelvic musculature and improve urinary and anal sphincter control.

Objectives:

– Decrease fecal and urinary incontinence. – Educate the patient and family about Kegel exercises.

Material:

Nursing records.

Procedure:

– Inform the patient and explain the exercises. – Ask the patient and family to cooperate. – Position of the patient: sitting or standing with legs apart. – Explain to the patient which muscles should be contracted during the exercise (tell the patient to imagine that gas is going to escape and to tighten the anal sphincter to avoid it). – Contract rectum, urethra and vagina upwards and keep contracted for 3-5 seconds. – Perform 5-6 contractions at first and increase the number as the muscles get stronger. The goal is to perform 30-45 contractions per day. – Advise the patient to relax for 10 seconds after each contraction. – Try to interrupt and restart urine flow when voiding. – Teach the patient to control stress incontinence by performing Kegel exercises when straining (coughing, laughing, sneezing or lifting). – Provide written information.

– Record in nursing documentation: procedure performed, date and time.

Observations:

These exercises should be taught during pregnancy and immediate postpartum (evidence I).