The pelvic floor sounds like a stop on a hospital elevator, but it controls many of our daily activities.
Good sexual health and reproductive function are associated with strong, healthy pelvic floor muscles. Most women are familiar with the line “do your Kegels,” as the pelvic floor muscles can be strengthened through exercise.
But the days of tenaciously contracting the pelvic floor muscles are behind us with using a biofeedback device for pelvic floor physiotherapy. This device helps develop the mind-body connection required to activate these internal muscles.
This blog post discusses biofeedback devices, pelvic floor physiotherapy, and how they strengthen the pelvic floor muscles.
Where Is the Pelvic Floor?
Our body’s core is shielded by a muscular trunk that wraps around our spine and digestive system.
The pelvic floor is at the bottom of this core, while our diaphragm is at the top. These collaborate to maintain constant pressure in our trunks, protect the spine, and help control our cravings to use the restroom when bending and moving around.
The pelvic floor extends from our front pelvic bone to the back of the tailbone. When we inhale, a strong and healthy pelvic floor relaxes, allowing our lungs to expand and our diaphragm to press down. And then, the diaphragm increases, and the pelvic floor contracts as we exhale.
With the help of a biofeedback device for pelvic floor physiotherapy, people can see how they are contracting their pelvic muscles and how strongly they are doing it.
It’s a procedure that frequently occurs during a physical therapy examination and shows patients their muscle activity using sensors and a monitor.
Patients can assess the strength of their contractions and see on the screen when they are contracting and relaxing the appropriate muscles. This biofeedback helps strengthen the pelvic floor and develops muscle control when used frequently.
Since biofeedback is a form of pelvic floor exercise, these exercises strengthen the muscles that control how your bowels open and close.
What Is a Pelvic Floor Therapy Device?
It is a device that helps enhance critical mind-body connection and provides training on controlling pelvic floor muscles. These devices measure the length and intensity of your pelvic floor contractions and their release.
With the help of technology, biofeedbacks help to remove the uncertainty of whether we are getting these contractions correctly.
People who have mastered the Kegel movement should use biofeedback devices. These devices use a wand or egg-shaped attachment, which can be inserted to stimulate the muscles.
These stimulators benefit anyone who experiences serious pelvic floor dysfunction or struggles to feel a sensation. They are also fantastic for women who want to relax while the machine handles the “heavy lifting.”
7 Biofeedback devices for pelvic floor physiotherapy
There are various biofeedback devices for pelvic floor physiotherapy. They include the following:
1. Kegel balls
Kegel balls exist in many different forms and sizes. They can be made of stone, stainless steel, plastic, silicone, etc. To promote progressive training, some are sold as sets with increasing weights.
Doing Kegels with the added weight makes the exercises more difficult for some individuals. But simpler for others to target the right muscles because you have to tighten your pelvic floor to hold the Kegel ball in.
The balls shouldn’t cause pain when you use them, and you should go for products made of safe, hypoallergenic materials like BPA-free plastic and medical-grade silicone.
Consult your doctor if unsure because some materials may be harmful, especially during pregnancy. Jade, for instance, is porous and may harbor bacteria, which could result in bacterial vaginosis or toxic shock syndrome.
Kegel balls can be used throughout pregnancy, but make sure they’re safe for you by consulting your doctor.
Before starting your workout, insert the device and wirelessly connect to the app. The app guides you through many exercises and responds to your Kegels in real-time with feedback. And you can perform the exercises as frequently as you choose.
These exercises last five to ten minutes on average and are intended for continuous use. So if you don’t use it, you lose it, just like any other muscle.
2. Elvie
Elvie is an advanced biofeedback device that connects to an app on your phone. It has a vaginal probe with pressure sensors.
With the Elvie, which resembles a light green Easter egg, you move a peach gem by contracting while adhering to on-screen instructions. This gem rises when you squeeze it and drops when you let go.
When you squeeze properly, the pressure sensors recognize the increase in pressure and instantly notify your app.
Also, several pelvic floor training programs use biofeedback to direct your exercises. And a detailed result is provided at the end of each workout.
3. Perifit
Do you remember those big-necked gym guys that constantly make you feel like you’re doing something wrong? Now you can pump up your inner muscles with Perifit.
Perifit is a video game made just for the vagina. Playing this video game can help you stop wetting your pants.
This app strengthens your nether regions by wirelessly linking your pelvic floor to your smartphone.
The tool assesses the ease of squeezing your pelvic floor muscles and the ability to contract them before sending the information to your phone.
The game is fun. And when you insert the pre-lubed doll into your fuzz muscle, you will see your butterfly character patiently flapping on your phone’s screen.
But to connect with the on-screen character, the game requires you to contract and relax the muscles in your pelvic floor.
4. kGoal
The kGoal vibrates to let you know you’re doing a contraction and provides feedback through a free app. It is made of medical-grade silicone.
You can view your pelvic floor motions with the aid of smart technologies and can see how powerful and well-controlled your contractions are.
Engaging in a fun activity like a game and also monitoring your progress can motivate you toward achieving your goals.
5. The vSculpt
This device resembles a remote control and has rounded ends that you insert into your vagina.
vSculpt uses LED lighting, heat, and acoustic vibration to train your pelvic floor while you relax.
Light, heat, and vibration are triple ways to treat pelvic floor issues. The vSculpt manufacturer claims that the light improves muscle tone and facilitates the transmission of light energy to the mucosal tissue.
The heat enhances blood flow to the muscles, leading to tissue healing. While the vibration relaxes the muscles and improves blood flow.
The handheld device comprises three light modes and six vibration modes. The manufacturer advises spreading the therapy sessions over three weeks.
This involves starting with six minutes three times per week and working up to 10 minutes three to four times weekly, always with a day’s rest between sessions.
Once you’ve reached your goals, it’s advised to maintain your vaginal tone with two weekly sessions of 10 minutes each.
Your therapy can be monitored with a free app. Here, buying a moisturizing gel helps support and enhance photonic energy transfer. But you should avoid lubricants made of silicone.
6. The Epi-No
The Epi-No, which stands for “no episiotomy,” is a biofeedback childbirth preparation tool. It is intended to lessen the possibility of experiencing postpartum incontinence, tearing, or episiotomies.
It comprises a pressure gauge, a handheld pump, and a silicone balloon. The African practice whereby gourds are inserted in the vagina so as to stretch the pelvic floor muscles and lower the risk of perineal injury inspired the invention of the device.
When using the Epi-No, insert only two-thirds of the device, and pump it up. Then start performing Kegels while keeping an eye on the gauge as you contract and relax. This is safe for pregnant women throughout their pregnancy journey.
At 37 weeks gone, begin to stretch your perineum after your Kegel session. The balloon should be inflated to the point of discomfort, but it shouldn’t be painful. Then leave it there for 10 minutes to finish the stretching process.
At the end of the ten minutes, relax these pelvic floor muscles and allow the balloon to come out of the vagina on its own.
This great technique helps women prepare for labor when they are due. It enables them to let go of pelvic floor tension and surrender to the sensations while giving birth.
You can continue using the Epi-No to perform Kegels after giving birth. However, discuss with your doctor how long you should wait after childbirth.
7. Need Educator
The Need Educator is a biofeedback device that resembles a tampon with a stick attached.
You should insert the device in your vagina, leaving the stick visible between your legs. Correct pelvic floor squeeze causes the stick to descend and move away from you. And the stick goes back up after you release the squeeze.
Conclusion
Good pelvic floor health leads to a happy and healthy existence. You shouldn’t put up with painful constipation, incontinence, loss of sexual desire, etc., as a biofeedback device for pelvic floor physiotherapy helps to solve these challenging issues.
Due to their stimulating energy, they make our muscles stronger as we relax and greatly enhance our overall well-being.
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